Dozens of House Republicans are scrambling behind the scenes to head off the deep Medicaid cuts in the Senate version of the party-line megabill that could pass as soon as tonight. The situation has prompted frantic communication among GOP lawmakers, with group texts and phone calls flooding between members who are deeply concerned about the potential consequences of the Senate’s Medicaid provisions. Some even in conservative states, which would be hit hard by the Senate’s crackdown on state-directed payments and medical provider taxes, are expressing reluctance to endorse the Senate’s Medicaid text.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) has been working on a proposal to reduce federal payments under the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion, which has already emerged as a red line for many House members. Speaker Mike Johnson is set to hold a call with a group of House Republicans at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow to discuss potential strategies, while Senate and House leadership staffers are already engaged in huddles to address the outstanding concerns. The urgency of the situation is underscored by the fact that the House may need to reconcile differences between the two chambers if the Senate doesn’t strike a final compromise on the language and add it in a final amendment before sending the bill to the House.
However, the uncertainty remains high, with the Senate’s leaders betting that the House will accept whatever the Senate sends them. Thune has been noncommittal in closed-door meetings with GOP senators, leaving it unclear whether there will be a final ‘wraparound’ that would incorporate House Republicans’ concerns. One GOP senator granted anonymity to discuss the situation has stated, “Right now, there isn’t a need for it.” The situation is a major political test, with both chambers dealing with internal politics, including the Senate’s own push to expand the size of the tax-cut package, which is driving the need for sharper Medicaid cuts. This development is likely to have significant implications for the future of the Medicaid program and the potential impact on states dependent on federal funds.