Medicaid Deserves To Be ‘Cherished and Loved’ – and Reformed

Medicaid has become a political lightning rod as House Republicans have been in negotiations on President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” advancing his agenda.

Some Republican lawmakers have expressed concerns over aggressive spending cuts on Medicaid and other federal safety net programs.

The Heritage Foundation reported:

President Donald Trump recently said that his administration will “cherish and love” Medicaid. He’s right. Medicaid provides critical health care services to millions of low-income Americans.

But when such a program has nearly 80 million enrollees and costs taxpayers nearly $1 trillion, some scrutiny is warranted.

The Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office have repeatedly warned that Medicaid needs greater oversight, accountability, and transparency.

Just because it serves low-income individuals doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t have proper oversight and regular review. If anything, Medicaid merits additional review to improve its integrity and ensure it serves those who need it most. Medicaid advocates should applaud efforts to bring greater oversight, accountability and transparency to the program.

The Trump Administration will not cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits, the White House reports. President Trump himself has said it (over and over and over again). But they will cut waste and fraud out of the program.

Elon Musk of DOGE fame said On X:

“The waste and fraud in entitlement spending — which is most of the federal spending is entitlements — so, that’s, like, the big one to eliminate. That’s the, sort of half-trillion, maybe $6-700 billion a year.”

The U.S. Government Accountability Office estimates taxpayers lose as much as $521 billion annually to fraud — and most of that is within entitlement programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid.

To that end, California Republican Congresswoman Young Kim (CA-40), and Congressman David Valadao (CA-22), together with 10 other members, are backing President Trump on Medicaid cuts.

Kathy Tavoularis, a Republican Councilwoman serving the City of Orange, wrote a letter, thanking her Congresswoman, Rep. Young Kim for her leadership to preserve Medicaid funding:

Our Seniors Need a Strong Medicaid Program

In California Medicaid is a lifeline for more than 13 million residents, with many in the city I represent, the City of Orange. It ensures that our most vulnerable neighbors, low-income seniors, individuals with disabilities, and families in need, have access to the care and support they need. Protecting and strengthening Medicaid is essential to keeping our communities healthy and secure. As a caregiver to my aging mother, I am increasingly in awe of the aid that is available to take care of our seniors.

Despite its critical role, Medicaid remains underfunded, covering on average, just 82 cents for every dollar of long-term care costs. This puts added strain on nursing homes, making it harder to retain staff, invest in facilities, and meet the growing needs of our aging population.

That’s why it’s so important we continue to support and bolster Medicaid funding. Without it, many nursing homes could be forced to reduce services or even close their doors, creating heartbreaking gaps in care for our seniors and their families. I’m grateful to leaders like Representative Kim who are standing up for Medicaid and championing the needs of our seniors and vulnerable populations. Her advocacy helps ensure that quality care remains available to everyone who depends on it, today and for generations to come.

Thank you Congresswoman Kim for making sure our seniors are supported.

President Trump’s “One, Big Beautiful Bill” is a proposed tax and spending package aimed at making the 2017 tax cuts permanent, expand certain tax credits, and include other provisions related to energy, health care, and possibly increased border security funding, changes to food stamps programs or the creation of savings accounts for newborns, according to The NY Times.