Senate Parliamentarian Blocks Major GOP Medicaid Cuts Threatening Millions

Proposed federal Medicaid cuts under President Donald Trump's tax and spending plan have sparked significant concern due to their potentially devastating impact on millions of older working-age Americans and rural hospitals. The UC Berkeley Labor Center analysis warns that new work requirements and documentation barriers could strip Medicaid and ACA subsidy eligibility from individuals unable to meet an 80-hour monthly threshold, threatening the health of vulnerable populations and those they care for. The cuts, totaling $785 billion over a decade, aim to tighten enrollment and limit federal aid, but critics highlight that this could leave nearly 11 million people uninsured, including many low-income individuals reliant on Medicaid. Senate deliberations faced setbacks when the Senate parliamentarian ruled several Medicaid cuts violated procedural rules, delaying the passage of Trump's signature legislation. This ruling disrupted the Republican timetable, forcing Senate leaders to adjust their strategy while emphasizing the bill's importance to the administration. Additionally, rural hospitals like Holton Community Hospital warn that freezing the health care provider tax would reduce critical revenue, further straining their ability to serve local communities under the proposed Medicaid changes.