Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
Medicaid is facing new pressure as House Republicans eye bigger cuts of perhaps close to $2 trillion in their budget resolution, sources say.
Why it matters: Major Medicaid changes like a per capita cap would likely be needed to meet such a big target number.
- That could lead to coverage losses or benefit cuts for people in the safety net program.
Yes, but: There is a major question of whether President Trump would agree to those larger changes, given his recent comments about not wanting to "affect" people on Medicaid.
- More moderate House GOP members, as well as GOP governors whose states would take a budgetary hit, could also throw up roadblocks.
Driving the news: House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie has been pushing for per capita caps, saying last week that they are "one way to get a handle" on the "out-of-control, rising cost of medical care."
- Still, he acknowledged that with extremely thin House margins, finding the votes is always an issue.
- "If they're bigger numbers then we just have to make sure we have the votes to do so," Guthrie said.
Between the lines: With multiple competing pressures in the House, it's not clear when the House budget document will be released.
- Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledged on "Fox News Sunday" that the Budget Committee markup could slip beyond this week.
- "We might push it a little bit further because the details really matter," Johnson said. "Remember that I have the smallest margin in history."
The bottom line: Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham says he is proceeding this week with his own budget document, a much smaller effort focused on the border, energy and defense.
- That could gain the upper hand if the House remains divided.
