GOP Weighs Medicaid Cuts Amid Controversial Budget Talks

Republican lawmakers are contemplating substantial reductions to the Medicaid health program as part of a sweeping budget plan aimed at tax cuts and increased spending on defense and border security. Medicaid, a crucial safety-net program covering 71 million low-income people, faces dramatic changes if the proposed measures are implemented.

Key discussions among Republicans include introducing a work requirement for adult Medicaid recipients and excluding noncitizens from coverage. There's also dialogue about stepping up verification processes and potentially eliminating a provider tax loophole, which might affect federal funding and enrollment numbers significantly.

With the Congressional Budget Office predicting a 60% growth in Medicaid costs over the next decade, Republican proposals could slash federal spending by hundreds of billions of dollars. However, these measures could also lead to drastic reductions in the number of people covered, raising concerns among moderates within the party who fear for their constituents' welfare.

(With inputs from agencies.)