Congress Passes Tax Bill Cutting $1 Trillion From Medicaid

President Donald Trump's recently passed tax and spending bill includes significant cuts to Medicaid, which is expected to impact millions of low-income Americans who rely on the program. The legislation, approved by both the Senate and House, extends 2017 tax cuts and introduces work requirements for Medicaid recipients, aiming to reduce government spending and encourage employment among nondisabled beneficiaries. However, the Congressional Budget Office projects the bill will cut $1 trillion from Medicaid and Affordable Care Act plans over the next decade, potentially causing 11.8 million people to lose insurance coverage. Health experts criticize the bill as a major rollback of the Affordable Care Act's progress toward universal coverage, while Republicans argue the reforms restore fiscal responsibility and personal responsibility. Local Medicaid providers, such as Partnership HealthPlan of California, advise enrollees to maintain their coverage and await further guidance as the details and implementation timelines of the cuts remain unclear. The bill faces internal opposition within the Republican Party, with concerns about its impact on constituents and the national deficit complicating its passage.