Today, the House is expected to vote on a controversial budget bill that would reduce government funding for Medicaid and Medicare. The cuts would scale back spending on Medicaid by 0.4 percent and Medicare by 0.3 percent over the next five years. Conservatives argue the cuts are necessary to put a halt to out-of-control spending. Democrats respond that the changes will hurt those least able to make the sacrifice. This will be the second time the legislation has come up before the House. The Senate passed the amended legislation in December. The bill is opposed by AARP and some pediatricians groups who argue that the Medicaid cuts in particular could harm children enrolled in the program.
- see this article from The Washington Post
PLUS: With healthcare stories likely to remain a hot topic in Washington this month, the Hill has the rundown on the key healthcare lobbyists in town. Article