Shapiro, Allies Warn on GOP Medicaid Cuts

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has warned that Republican-led Medicaid cuts, included in a broader national budget plan featuring tax cuts, increased military spending, and reductions to assistance programs, could cost the state billions in federal aid and leave hundreds of thousands without health insurance. The plan introduces stricter work requirements and eligibility checks for Medicaid recipients. Planned Parenthood advocates caution that the proposal would block Medicaid reimbursements to clinics providing abortions, threatening access to preventive care for roughly 20,000 Medicaid patients in Pennsylvania. Shapiro emphasized the state cannot offset the loss of federal funds and is already facing increased Medicaid costs due to a sicker post-pandemic population. Democratic governors, including Shapiro, have publicly opposed the legislation, citing catastrophic impacts on vulnerable groups. The bill is advancing in Congress with potentially far-reaching consequences for healthcare access and rural hospitals in Pennsylvania.