House GOP Considers Second Medicaid Reforms Bill Amid Debt Concerns
Washington, D.C. – The House Budget Committee has begun early discussions on a potential second Republican megabill, focusing on potential Medicaid reforms. Sources indicate that lawmakers, including Rep. Jodey Arrington, are considering measures to modify aspects of the program that were excluded from the Senate’s final version of the legislation. These proposals include restricting federal funds from covering transgender medical procedures and limiting support for Medicaid services to illegal immigrants.
Reform discussions are seen as part of a broader effort to address the national debt, with Arrington referring to the $36-plus trillion deficit as a ‘curse’ that needs continuous efforts to overcome. He emphasized that the process is still in early stages and that details remain fluid, with ongoing talks between his committee and leaders of other House panels on what should be included in the new bill.
While more contentious ideas, such as altering the federal-state cost sharing ratio for Medicaid, known as FMAP, are unlikely to be central, the focus remains on measures that would align with the preferences of a significant portion of the American public, according to Arrington. The first reconciliation bill, passed last month, included several of President Trump’s priorities, such as tax cuts and strengthened work requirements for federal food benefits. However, the White House has not publicly endorsed a second bill, leaving the path forward uncertain.
The path forward remains uncertain, with skepticism about whether both chambers have the appetite for another reconciliation bill. The first package, though a major GOP victory, took months of negotiation and internal wrangling. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., declined to directly assess the odds of a second reconciliation bill when asked Tuesday.