A MAGA Republican shot back at House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) after he announced that GOP leadership in his chamber had decided not to pursue a pair of major Medicaid cuts that were under consideration.
Johnson left a meeting with moderate House Republicans and told reporters leadership ruled out lowering the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage for the Medicaid expansion population, Laura Weiss of Punchbowl News reported. The move would reduce the federal government’s share of funding for states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Millions could lose coverage in those states if adopted.
ALSO READ: ‘Pain. Grief. Anger’: Families heartbroken as Trump backlash smashes adoption dreams
"On per capita caps, which some mods oppose: 'I think we’re ruling that out as well but stay tuned,'" Johnson said, according to Weiss.
Implementing per capita caps would set a limit on federal Medicaid funding per enrollee, shifting more costs to states and risking coverage losses, especially for low-income Americans.
The ideas have faced stiff opposition from moderate Republicans, who have warned they would not support any bill that impacts Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), who has been a thorn in President Donald Trump's side and for parts of the MAGA agenda, took issue with Johnson's statement on social media.
"Well - I haven’t ruled it out. It’s necessary to stop robbing from the vulnerable to fund the able-bodied," he retorted.
Roy's public break with Johnson led Jake Sherman of Punchbowl News to quip, "Everything’s going really well."
