The NPR Politics Podcast Inside Trump's Tax And Spending Law: Medicaid Cuts & A 'Backdoor Abortion Ban'
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Jul 8, 2025 
Join health correspondent Katia Riddle as she breaks down the impact of Trump's new tax and spending law, which threatens to strip health insurance from nearly 12 million Americans. Discover how new Medicaid work requirements could affect vulnerable populations and challenge healthcare access, especially in rural areas. Riddle discusses the political fallout, with Democrats gearing up to target Republicans over these cuts, and elaborates on how the legislation might indirectly impose restrictions on abortion services. A compelling look at health policy and its electoral repercussions!
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Medicaid Work Requirements Burden
- New Medicaid work requirements impose 80 hours of monthly work or volunteering, creating burdensome paperwork.
- Many will be removed from Medicaid due to difficulty proving these requirements, risking coverage loss for millions.
State Medicaid Work Trials Show Costs
- States like Arkansas and Georgia experienced confusion and high administrative costs from implementing Medicaid work requirements.
- Efforts to enforce work rules can cost more than providing actual health services, reducing program efficiency.
Medicaid Cuts Threaten Rural Care
- Medicaid cuts will also impact rural hospitals, threatening financial viability beyond Medicaid patients.
- Rural hospitals serve many with private insurance who cannot access urban medical centers easily.