STAT+: Why an influential GOP health policy expert still backs the Medicaid cuts — and which policy target is next

Brian Blase, president of the Paragon Health Institute, has become a trusted adviser to Republicans in Congress, who passed sweeping changes to federal health care funding last year. He argues that backlash to the Medicaid cuts overlooks key arguments in favor of them. The article is a STAT+ exclusive by Washington correspondent Daniel, examining Blase's continued support and which policy target may be next.

The Medicaid program is expected to pay out about $1 trillion less than projected over the coming decade because of policies Blase supported. The cuts were made through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and used to offset the cost of tax cuts. Preliminary estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office suggest the changes could lead to 7 million people losing Medicaid coverage.

The funding reductions are already causing health providers to scramble and rethink how they offer care. The full STAT+ story is behind a paywall, so the specific next policy target is not detailed in the excerpt.