Senate Republicans clash over proposed cuts to Medicaid spending. GOP senators fight to protect rural hospitals from budget bill impacts. Can Leader Thune secure enough votes to pass the controversial Medicaid reforms? #MedicaidBattle. #RuralHospitalCrisis. #SenateShowdown.
00:00Senate Majority Leader John Thune is pushing to overcome Republican resistance to significant Medicaid spending cuts within the House past budget bill.
00:09With President Trump's July 4 deadline looming, Thune is in aggressive negotiations with GOP senators who are wary of the bill's impact, particularly on rural hospitals.
00:20Senators like Susan Collins and Josh Hawley are advocating for measures to protect these facilities, which they argue would be devastated by the proposed restrictions on states' ability to use health care provider taxes to draw down federal Medicaid funding.
00:37Discussions are also underway regarding Medicaid's work and eligibility requirements and concerns that the bill would shift too much of Medicaid's costs onto states and lower-income Americans.
00:49White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has reinforced President Trump's expectation for the Senate to meet his deadline, signaling the urgency of these ongoing negotiations.
01:01Senator Kevin Kramer anticipates concessions from all sides to secure the necessary majority for passage.
