The bitter debate over the future of Medicaid — which serves 80 million citizens in the nation including 1.8 million from New Jersey — finally takes center stage on Tuesday, when a congressional panel will discuss changes that would eliminate at least 8.6 million people from the program. Congressional Republicans passed a resolution in February that required the House Energy and Commerce Committee to find deep savings from Medicaid to help pay for the income tax cuts President Donald Trump enacted during his first term that largely favor wealthy people.
The legislation released Sunday night in anticipation of Tuesday’s hearing enraged Congressional Democrats and advocates for elderly, disabled and low-income people, who called the cuts “shameful” and “horrific.” A health policy expert predicted the cuts would choke nursing homes and hospitals, forcing some to close. To read the full story.