Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Speaker Johnson Is Eyeing Big Cuts to Medicaid

When Desoto Regional Health System took out $36 million in loans last year to renovate a rural hospital that opened in 1952, officials were banking on its main funding source remaining stable: Medicaid, the joint federal-state health program for low-income people and the disabled.

Posted by LampLighter at 06:32 PM | 29 COMMENTS | permalink

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AOC: Only 2% of people on Medicaid are able-bodied.. I saw Mike Johnson saying we have to stop all the able-bodied men from being on Medicaid -- as if it's a crime for someone to have healthcare in America. Healthcare is a human right, and everyone should have it.

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-- Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) April 14, 2025 at 8:55 PM

Comments

More from the article ...

... But those dollars are now in jeopardy, as President Trump and the GOP-controlled Congress move to shrink the nearly $900 billion health program that covers more than 1 in 5 Americans.

Desoto CEO Todd Eppler said Medicaid cuts could make it harder for his hospital to repay the loans and for patients to access care.

"I just hope that the people who are making these decisions have thought deeply about it and have some context of the real-world implications," he said, "because it's going to affect us as a hospital and going to affect our patients." ...

One of the decision-makers is Eppler's representative in Congress: House Speaker Mike Johnson, who lives about 35 miles north of here. He said he knows the Republican leader and his staff understand hospitals' plight: The mother of Johnson's chief of staff is CEO of a rural hospital in the district.

"I've never met a congressman yet that wanted a rural hospital in their district to close, and certainly Mike is no exception to that rule," Eppler said. ...

Last year nearly 290,000 people in Johnson's district were enrolled in Medicaid, about 38% of the total population, according to data compiled by KFF, the health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News.

About 118,000 of them are in the program thanks to the Affordable Care Act, which allowed states including Louisiana to expand Medicaid to cover low-income adults, many of whom were working in low-paying jobs that don't provide health insurance.

Louisiana ranks second in Medicaid enrollment, at nearly 32% --- a reflection of the state's high poverty rate. ...


#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-04-14 05:53 PM

Will Spr Johnson be holding Town Halls during the recess?

#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-04-14 06:12 PM

Yeah, Right.

They'll serve Great Big Jumbo Shrimp.

And Johnson will Hold Forth on how Empathy is WEAKNESS.

To Cheering Crowds.

#3 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2025-04-14 06:27 PM

@#3

Still trying so hard to be relevant?

Still apparently proffering Pres Putin's "destroy America from within" comment?

So sad.


#4 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-04-14 07:41 PM

"Only the weak will fail!"

#5 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-04-14 07:44 PM

More from the article ...

... Defending the plan, Johnson said that Medicaid is "not for 29-year-old males sitting on their couches playing video games."

Stovall said almost everyone she knows on Medicaid works at least one job. "I don't even own a TV," she said. ...

KFF Health News spoke with two dozen Medicaid enrollees in Johnson's district. Most said they were unaware their congressman is leading the Republican charge to upend the program. Those informed of the Republican plan said it scares them. ...



#6 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-04-14 08:29 PM

imo, Maybe Democrats in that district should hold Town Halls, and invite Spkr Johnson (likely an empty chair), to explain what is happening to Medicaid?

#7 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-04-14 08:31 PM

Wow, I seemed to have stumble upon a trend ...

Voters empty chair' Republicans who are skipping town halls across the country as anger grows about Musk and Russia (March 24, 2025)
www.independent.co.uk

... Everyday Alaskans are the ones left reeling from the destruction of our critical services,' town hall attendee says ...


#8 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-04-14 08:33 PM

GOP gots to pay for billions in tax cuts for their Billionaire Bosses who financed their Elections.

Which is NOT the way the People's Gov is supposed to werk.

But Trumpers don't care; they were able to fantasize about owning them a lib today, and that's what's important to them.

#9 | Posted by Corky at 2025-04-14 09:04 PM


It seems that Spkr Johnson looks to rely upon voter ignorance?

From #6 ...

... KFF Health News spoke with two dozen Medicaid enrollees in Johnson's district. Most said they were unaware their congressman is leading the Republican charge to upend the program. Those informed of the Republican plan said it scares them. ... ...


So I ask, again, will Spkr Johnson be holding Town Halls in his district over the recess?

#10 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-04-14 09:45 PM

@#10 ... So I ask, again, will Spkr Johnson be holding Town Halls in his district over the recess? ...

Well, there's this ...

Speaker Johnson tells GOP lawmakers to skip town halls after an onslaught of protests (March 2025)
apnews.com

... House Speaker Mike Johnson is encouraging Republican lawmakers to skip town halls that have been filled with protesters decrying the Trump administration's slashing of federal government, echoing the president's claims that the demonstration's are fueled by professional protesters.

The speaker's advice Tuesday comes as GOP lawmakers often find themselves at a loss to explain the cuts, led by billionaire Elon Musk'sDepartment of Government Efficiency, that are leaving federal workers suddenly out of jobs in communities from coast to coast. Democrats are jumping in to shine a bright light on what is happening. ...



#11 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-04-14 09:47 PM

"Voters empty chair' Republicans who are skipping town halls across the country"

Remember when Clint Eastwood had Obama in a chair?

Remember how humiliating that was for Republicans?

Like McRib, it's back.

#12 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-04-14 09:48 PM

@#11

So, will Spkr Johnson put his tail between his legs and retreat from Town Halls with those who elected him?

#13 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-04-14 09:49 PM

@#12 ... Remember when Clint Eastwood had Obama in a chair? ...

How Clint Eastwood's odd Obama speech turned Republican stomachs (2013)
www.theguardian.com

... Clint Eastwood's eccentric performance at last year's Republican National Convention earned the veteran actor and film-maker some of the most bemused reviews of his illustrious career. Now a new book sheds light on how it played to the Republican faithful within the auditorium. One senior strategist was so horrified by the spectacle, it is alleged, that he promptly took himself off to vomit. ...

#14 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-04-14 10:01 PM

@#14 ...

So, will Spkr Johnson put his tail between his legs and retreat from Town Halls with those who elected him?

?

#15 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-04-14 10:03 PM

"Let's talk about Johnson admitting they're cutting Medicaid ... .

Belle of the Ranch" (Beau's wife)

www.youtube.com

4 min

Correcting the Trumper lie that people who work can't still qualify for some Medicaid programs.

His home state Louisiana is one of the biggest losers in all this, as are many rural red states that will lose hospitals and doctors for kids and families.

#16 | Posted by Corky at 2025-04-14 10:10 PM

AND... the REAL reason people need Medicaid in the first place is the same reason we have such high Poverty Rates:

the billionaires/Corporations that paid Trump and Republicans to steal this money for their Tax Cuts REFUSE TO PAY A LIVING WAGE.

If they did, we wouldn't need these Gov Services.

#17 | Posted by Corky at 2025-04-14 10:51 PM

@#16 ... His home state Louisiana is one of the biggest losers in all this ...

Yeah, but the question becomes ...

Do those in his district know his views and votes?

I mean, if they don't own a TV ....






#18 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-04-14 11:01 PM

It's okay if poor people die.

"Only the weak will fail!"

#19 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-04-14 11:10 PM

Billionaires need tax cuts.

Republican still believe in trickledown economics.

Poor people are better off dead.

#20 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-04-14 11:12 PM

After denying medicaid cuts all spring long, the GCCCP will not gut medicaid.

If you did not see that coming you're a special kind of stupid.

Poor people don't deserve health care.

#21 | Posted by Nixon at 2025-04-15 09:09 AM

But but but shrimptacodips*&^ said medicaid/medicare and Social Security cuts were a HoAxZ!!

#22 | Posted by jpw at 2025-04-15 12:01 PM

@#21 ... After denying medicaid cuts all spring long, the GCCCP will not gut medicaid. ...

Is that what you meant to post?

The rest of your comment seems to be of a different view.

Or, am I reading it incorrectly?

#23 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-04-16 07:32 PM

Take from the poor to give to the rich...what it all about.
And along the way, intimidate each and every person who has the courage to speak out against the Trump insanity.
Medicaid is about the poorest of the poor, and here in Oregon to be eligible I believe one needs to have less than $2000 in assets, so to take away life preserving services is evil.

#24 | Posted by Hughmass at 2025-04-17 10:12 AM

Has he checked with his "accountability buddy" to make sure it's approved by God?

Maybe he oughta talk directly to Jesus and see what He thinks about gutting healthcare for the poor and disadvantaged.

Please don't make Jesus weep again.

#25 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-04-17 01:51 PM

Nearly 40% of the people in House Speaker Mike Johnson's district in Louisiana rely on Medicaid.

#26 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2025-04-17 02:06 PM

Medicaid must be reserved for Americans.

#27 | Posted by Robson at 2025-04-17 07:28 PM

Medicaid must be reserved for Americans.

#27 | POSTED BY ROBSON

And therefore no one must have it.

#28 | Posted by Zed at 2025-04-17 07:37 PM

Re: #28 Zed

He has no idea what is happening

#29 | Posted by hamburglar at 2025-04-17 07:56 PM

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