Senate conservatives are dropping their push for a vote on scaling back a key Medicaid funding mechanism, according to three people granted anonymity to discuss private deliberations.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and allies were expected to get a vote on an amendment to scale back the federal share of Medicaid costs for those enrolled under the Affordable Care Act’s expansion of Medicaid starting in 2031. Senate leadership backed the proposal and were expected to help build support for it as part of a deal cut earlier this week to start debate on President Donald Trump’s domestic policy bill.
But Republicans were wary of enacting such a deep cut despite other provisions in the megabill that would decrease Medicaid funding by nearly $800 billion. Several GOP senators warned Monday they did not support making changes to the federal march for Medicaid enrollees.
A spokesperson for Scott did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
While the amendment is being withdrawn, Scott’s fight highlights how far Republicans have been willing to go to curb the Medicaid expansion, a cornerstone of the Affordable Care Act. Republicans argue the expansion enables able-bodied adults to get coverage at the expense of beneficiaries with disabilities and the elderly.
The federal government traditionally covers half of all Medicaid costs and the state picks up the rest. But the federal government covers 90 percent of costs for expansion enrollees. Under Scott’s proposal, that extra funding would shrink down to 50 percent after 2030. Anyone who was enrolled prior to that date would be grandfathered at the 90 percent payment rate.
While Trump himself has said he does not want to cut Medicaid benefits, an estimated 11.8 million people are expected to lose coverage if the megabill becomes law by 2034, according to estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The number would likely balloon if Scott’s amendment passed.
