Republicans want Medicaid cuts to hurt black people, not white people

[dalton99a]

https://rollcall.com/2025/06/20/senate-gop-mulls-shielding-rural-hospitals-from-medicaid-cuts/

Senate GOP mulls shielding rural hospitals from Medicaid cuts
Medicaid is often one of the top payers for rural facilities
By Sandhya Raman and Jessie Hellmann
Posted June 20, 2025 at 6:02am

Senate Republicans say they are looking for ways to safeguard rural hospitals from proposed cuts to a key Medicaid funding method, amid concerns from the powerful hospital lobby and others that the budget reconciliation bill could force many facilities to close.

The draft text that the Senate Finance Committee released this week reduces the ability of states who expanded Medicaid under the 2010 health care law to levy taxes on providers to fund their programs.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters Wednesday he is working on the issue, though he did not offer details. Leadership is attempting to balance directives to cut government spending with demands from senators like Josh Hawley, R-Mo., who said that the bill should protect rural hospitals from the effects of shrinking provider taxes.

“The right thing to do is not defund rural hospitals to pay for your pet projects,” Hawley said. “So if you want your pet project in the bill, go find your own money. Don’t defund rural hospitals.”

Medicaid is often one of the top payers for rural facilities.

...