Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced the “Protect Medicaid and Rural Hospitals Act” on Tuesday, aiming to prevent future cuts to Medicaid funding—just weeks after voting for the reductions as part of Donald Trump‘s recent reconciliation package.
Hawley’s legislation would repeal provisions that reduce state Medicaid funding mechanisms, including a moratorium on provider taxes and limits on state-directed payments that could slash Medicaid reimbursements. “Now is the time to prevent any future cuts to Medicaid from going into effect,” Hawley said, citing Trump’s stance on protecting working-class health coverage.
The rollback in Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” is projected to reduce Medicaid funding by nearly $1 trillion over the next decade. Hawley’s reversal appears aimed at protecting rural hospitals, which are especially reliant on Medicaid payments in Missouri, where about 1.2 million residents—roughly 20% of the population—are enrolled in the program.
While the legislation would restore some state-level financing tools, it does not reverse cuts already enacted. Hawley emphasized the need for permanent rural hospital funding and Medicaid protection for working families.
Sources:
Axios – MBFC Rating
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