Senate Republican leadership is considering delaying a cut to Medicaid to win over holdouts as it continues to try to pass the One, Big, Beautiful Bill by the July 4 deadline, Punchbowl News reported.
By delaying the implementation of cracking down on Medicaid provider taxes and providing a fund for rural hospitals, the hope is it will encourage moderate Republicans to support the bill, Punchbowl said.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said he wants to learn how each state's rural hospitals will be impacted before he votes on the bill.
"I don't have a problem with the [provider tax] scale-down," Tillis said to Punchbowl. "I'm just asking some questions so all members know programmatically how this will be dealt with in the states...You need to do a scenario analysis for every single one."
Under the current bill, the tax limits would hit Medicaid expansion states in early 2027, which could imperil senators facing tough re-elections in 2026, like moderate Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who has yet to offer her support. Tillis also faces a tough reelection next year.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., is hoping for a procedural vote Friday with an overnight vote-a-rama into a final vote on Saturday, Punchbowl said. Other senators told Punchbowl they expect voting to begin on the weekend.
The revised bill must still pass the House of Representatives, and conservatives in the lower chamber are concerned about any attempt to reduce spending cuts, Punchbowl said.
The bill must also assuage blue state Republicans who want to see an increase in the State and Local Tax deduction.
Sam Barron ✉
Sam Barron has almost two decades of experience covering a wide range of topics including politics, crime and business.