Nonpartisan CBO Analysis Proves Republicans Are Lying About Medicaid Cuts

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has confirmed that the Republican budget, recently passed by House Republicans with the full support of Donald Trump, would require deep cuts to Medicaid. This analysis was provided in response to a request from Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, and Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Over the next decade, after excluding Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), CBO’s analysis shows that mandatory spending within the Energy and Commerce Committee’s jurisdiction totals $381 billion. Of this amount, only $135 billion is available for cuts after excluding key programs that are funded by collections and fees, meaning they are budget neutral. That is less than one-sixth of the $880 billion in cuts required by the Republican budget resolution, confirming that the only way to meet their target for the Energy and Commerce Committee is through deep, damaging cuts to Medicaid.

 “This analysis from the nonpartisan CBO confirms what we’ve been saying all along: Republicans are lying about their budget,” said Ranking Member Boyle. “Their plan would force the largest Medicaid cuts in American history — all to pay for more tax giveaways to billionaires. This is a complete betrayal of the middle class, and Democrats will keep fighting to stop them. The American people deserve to know just how much pain Republicans are willing to inflict on their own constituents to reward their billionaire donors.”

“This letter from CBO confirms what we’ve been saying all along: the math doesn’t work without devastating Medicaid cuts,” Ranking Member Pallone said. “The reality is the only way Republicans can cut at least $880 billion within the Energy and Commerce Committee’s jurisdiction is by making deep, harmful cuts to Americans’ health care. Republicans know their spin is a lie, and the truth is they have no problem taking health care away from millions of Americans so that the rich can get richer and pay less in taxes than they already do.”

Click here to read the request from Ranking Members Boyle and Pallone.

Click here to view the response from CBO.

The Republican budget would result in the largest Medicaid cuts in American history. States would face severe funding shortfalls. Millions of people would lose coverage entirely, while many who remain covered would see reduced benefits and fewer available providers. Seniors, children, people with disabilities, and working families would bear the brunt of these devastating cuts.

Click here to read a report from House Budget Committee Democrats exposing how the Republican budget undermines working families while benefiting the wealthy and well-connected.

Click here for district information from House Budget Committee Democrats on Medicaid, Affordable Care Act, and SNAP enrollment in communities across America.

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