On June 25, the House Budget Committee held a hearing on work requirements in federal programs, including Medicaid. This hearing takes place as the Senate prepares to consider its version of reconciliation legislation, following the House’s passage of its bill in May. The hearing included both sides accusing the other of misleading the public about the impact of the House reconciliation bill. Any person(s) or organization(s) wishing to submit written comments for the hearing record can do so by emailing Ryan.Bailey@mail.house.gov by the close of business on June 27, 2025.
OPENING STATEMENTS
- House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington (R-TX)
- House Budget Committee Ranking Member Brendan Boyle (D-PA)
WITNESS TESTIMONY
- Dr. Brian Blase Ph.D., President, Paragon Health Institute
- Mr. Nick Stehle, Vice President of Communications, Foundation for Government Accountability
- Mr. Matthew Dickerson, Director of Budget Policy, Economic Policy Innovation Center
- The Honorable Robert Gordon, Duke Distinguished Visiting Fellow, McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University
MEMBER QUESTIONS
The hearing provided Republicans an opportunity to defend provisions they argue will address waste, fraud, and abuse within federal programs. Republicans praised the provisions to strengthen eligibility verification, prevent undocumented immigrants from accessing federal benefits, and limit certain state f inancing options, such as provider taxes and state-directed payments, which they argued have been used by states like California to secure more Medicaid funding. They also argued the bill does not cut Medicaid but ensures the program can provide care to those who genuinely need it. Republicans, such as Chair Jodey Arrington (R-TX) and Rep. Ralph Northam (R-SC), also said that the bill could go further to address waste, fraud, and abuse in federal programs. Reps. Chip Roy (R-TX) and Andrew Clyde (RGA) expressed concerns that a Senate proposal to change the expanded Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for the Medicaid expansion population does not go far enough in addressing their concerns about spending in the program.
Democratic members responded to these arguments by stating that these Medicaid and SNAP work requirements will increase bureaucratic burden and will cause Americans to lose access to legitimate benefits in order to fund tax cuts for the wealthy, and that most people impacted by the bill will be citizens and legal residents. Additionally, Democrats argued that instead of enacting the work requirements in the House reconciliation bill, Congress should focus on eliminating what they see as real waste, fraud, and abuse, including examples they cited within the Trump administration. Notably, Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) argued that there should be an increased focus on provider and insurer fraud. Chairman Arrington noted that he and other Republicans have an interest in addressing concerns about fraud and abuse within the Medicare Advantage program. Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), John McGarvey (D-KY), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), and Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) also argued that Medicaid provisions in the House’s bill would lead to hospital closures, especially in rural and underserved areas.