Republicans Say They Want to Go After Waste, Fraud and Abuse. They Just Don’t Totally Agree on What Counts.

The debate could derail the party’s budget reconciliation bill.

Chip Roy
Angelina Katsanis/POLITICO via AP

Republican lawmakers all say their reconciliation bill should target waste, fraud and abuse in Medicaid.

But that unity only lasts as long as members don’t interrogate the definition of “waste, fraud and abuse” too closely.

In interviews with NOTUS this week, Republicans gave very different answers as to what constitutes waste, fraud and abuse within Medicaid, the joint federal-state health care program for low-income and vulnerable people. Some of them believe Medicaid waste, fraud and abuse includes coverage for immigrants. Most Republicans feel there are many able-bodied adults who are on the Medicaid rolls unnecessarily, and that new work requirements would cut costs. At least one member thinks the whole health care system is one big pile of waste, fraud and abuse.