The Brian Lehrer Show GOP Bill Goes After Medicaid
May 20, 2025
Frank Pallone, U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 6th district, delves into the recent GOP proposals to cut Medicaid and Obamacare funding. He highlights alarming projections by the Congressional Budget Office, indicating that 8.6 million Americans could lose health insurance. Pallone also discusses the proposed Medicaid work requirements, which risk disproportionately affecting disabled individuals. The conversation touches on restricting Medicaid funding for reproductive health services, raising concerns about patient care and the operational impact on clinics.
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Georgia Medicaid Red Tape Example
- Georgia's Medicaid work requirement caused 300,000 eligible people to lose coverage due to red tape.
- Only 1% managed to navigate the paperwork and maintain eligibility, showing how barriers exclude many.
Work Requirements Are Red Tape
- Medicaid work requirements mostly add bureaucratic burdens, not much new labor obligations.
- Most Medicaid recipients already work or have legitimate exemptions, so requirements mainly hurdle access.
Medicaid Cuts Threaten Planned Parenthood
- The GOP bill targets Planned Parenthood by barring Medicaid payments to nonprofits engaged in reproductive health.
- This can force many clinics to close, limiting access to essential healthcare services for Medicaid patients.