White Home Nationwide Financial Council director Kevin Hassett mentioned Sunday the Trump administration will not be concentrating on Medicare in its sweeping finances proposal, however signaled the administration can be open to modifications if senators uncover fraud or abuse as they take a look at the invoice.
“If somebody finds waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare, then of course we would look at it,” Hassett mentioned on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.” “But there have been a lot of false stories about Medicare being on the table, and it’s totally not on the table.”
Senate Republicans this week are engaged on the Home-passed finances invoice, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill” by President Trump, which incorporates deep tax cuts, border safety measures, and modifications to Medicaid and meals help packages.
Hassett on Sunday pushed again in opposition to the concept Republicans are concentrating on Medicare for cuts.
“That story that got out last week was covered as our intent to go after Medicare,” Hassett mentioned bluntly. “And it was just a big fake news story.”
CBS Information
Requested whether or not the administration would revisit the Medicare provision if the Senate identifies abuse, Hassett mentioned they might. “I’ve seen a massive amount of waste, fraud and abuse in Medicaid, and I’ve not been briefed on Medicare waste, fraud and abuse. But if they find something then, of course, we would look at it,” he mentioned.
The nonpartisan Congressional Price range Workplace estimated earlier this week that the invoice will add $2.4 trillion to the nationwide debt over the subsequent decade. Sen. Thom Tillis advised Charlotte’s WCNC on Thursday that he helps laws that might deal with waste within the Medicare Benefit Program. This addition, he mentioned, wouldn’t contact beneficiaries however would concentrate on “eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse of the Medicare Advantage program, including costly government overpayments to insurance companies.”
To pay for a few of Mr. Trump’s tax reforms, resembling extending his 2017 tax cuts and eliminating tax on ideas, there are cuts to a number of packages. Republicans have insisted they aren’t slicing Medicaid, and reductions within the low-income entitlement program have develop into one of the vital charged components of the invoice. In a closed-door session with members of the Republican convention days earlier than the invoice’s passage, sources within the room advised CBS Information Mr. Trump mentioned, “Don’t f*** around with Medicaid.”
Home Republicans handed the invoice late final month on a 215–214 vote, sending it to the Senate the place GOP leaders are weighing revisions to safe sufficient votes beneath finances reconciliation guidelines.
“What we want to see done now is we want the Senate to pass the bill, and then we want the House and Senate to work out their differences,” Hassett mentioned. “So right now, the Senate has to get the votes they need to pass the bill, and we’re supporting them in that process.”
Some Republican senators, together with Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Josh Hawley of Missouri, have voiced considerations about Medicaid provisions within the invoice, significantly new month-to-month premium necessities for low-income recipients. Their opposition highlights ongoing uncertainty as Senate GOP leaders work to safe sufficient votes. The invoice can’t afford to lose greater than 4 votes within the Senate, granted that each one Democrats vote in opposition to it.
Hawley has known as the Medicaid work necessities “both morally wrong and politically suicidal.”
When requested about Hawley’s considerations, Hassett mentioned, “I’d have to go see what he has and talk to him about it. And I also would want to talk to the president about the specific matter. So I can’t speak to that one.”
The administration has repeatedly argued that failure to cross the laws may damage the broader financial system.
“If we don’t pass this bill, then we lose 6 to 7 million jobs and 4% GDP,” Hassett mentioned Sunday. “If we create the jobs that we have in the bill, then we’re going to create a heck of a lot more insurance than what we’re talking about in waste, fraud and abuse.”
Senate Republicans are anticipated to launch their model of the invoice within the coming days. If there are vital modifications, it can then have to return to the Home for closing passage earlier than touchdown on Mr. Trump’s desk.
