The Gist Healthcare Podcast Senate Mulls Spending Bill That Includes Significant Federal Healthcare Cuts
Jun 9, 2025
Michael McAuliffe, a seasoned politics and policy reporter for Modern Healthcare, dives into the controversial spending bill making waves in Washington, D.C. He reveals that the proposed cuts could impact Medicaid and the ACA by up to $1 trillion over the next decade. Listeners learn about the mixed reactions within the House, the political pressures influencing healthcare debates, and the potential loss of coverage for over 8 million individuals. McAuliffe also discusses how hospitals may face significant financial challenges due to these sweeping cuts.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Scale Of Proposed Health Cuts
- The One Big Beautiful Bill would cut roughly $800B from Medicaid and about $100B from the ACA marketplaces over 10 years.
- Combined effects could approach $900B–$1T in health-care reductions with overlapping estimates still being refined.
Narrow Passage And Fractured Response
- The House passed the bill by a single vote and reactions split along ideological lines, showing deep intra-party disagreement.
- Senate pushback from moderates and conservatives suggests major revisions are likely before any final law.
Moderates Pushed To Vote Yes
- Moderates warned they opposed big Medicaid cuts but most ultimately voted for the package after pressure and political calculation.
- Michael McAuliff described moderates being 'shoved' into supporting the bill despite earlier letters of concern.