Missouri Republican Tells Medicaid Recipients in His State: ‘Show Me Why You Should Be Using Taxpayer Money’

After months of insisting they will not touch Medicaid, Republicans seem poised to do just that in their spending bill, under which 10.3 million recipients would lose coverage. Republicans want to impose work requirements and more frequent eligibility checks on enrollees. The bill would also require some recipients to pay for some of their coverage if they make more than the federal poverty level, which is $15,650 a year for a single adult.

Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO) appeared on Wednesday’s CNN News Central to defend the Republicans’ plan. The lawmaker maintained that there are savings to be had by reining in Medicaid fraud. Host Boris Sanchez asked Alford about the implications of the GOP’s plan.

“I do wonder, though, because one in five Missourians are covered by Medicaid,” Sanchez said. “Roughly how many of them, in your view, would be deemed ineligible for these benefits, or in your view, are committing fraud? Do you have an estimate or rough number?”

“I do not have any numbers on that,” Alford replied. “I know that some people in the Show Me State are concerned. But it is a show-me state, and we’re gonna ask people to show me, show me why you should be using taxpayer money for Medicaid that’s funneled from the federal government down to the state level. Look, we are not empty of compassion. That is not what it’s about. I am compassionate about turning this country around. We are on the edge of going over the cliff from the debt that we have, $36 trillion.”

“Congressman, there may be waste and fraud, but the reason that I ask you for an estimate is because it seems like ultimately, people that may have legitimate claims are going to wind up losing their benefits,” Sanchez replied. “It’s already estimated that there are thousands of people… who are eligible for Medicaid that aren’t receiving it.”

Alford responded tautologically, stating, “I will do everything I can, Boris, to make sure in my district, to make sure that if you are eligible for Medicaid, we will get you the benefits that you deserve.”

Some in MAGA world are leery of Medicaid cuts because many enrollees voted for Trump.

“Medicaid is going to be a complicated one,” Steve Bannon said in February. “Just can’t take a meat axe to it, although I would love to.”

Watch above via CNN.