Rep. Nick Langworthy is pushing back against Democratic criticism of a Republican-led Medicaid reform bill, calling it a necessary move to root out fraud and preserve the program for those most in need.
“For months, Democrat leaders in Washington and across the country have been pushing a false narrative: that Republicans are slashing Medicaid and targeting vulnerable Americans,” Langworthy wrote. “It’s a lie.”
In a sharply worded column, the New York congressman outlined key elements of the proposed legislation, which includes work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents and a ban on Medicaid benefits for undocumented immigrants. He framed the changes as a return to common sense and fiscal responsibility.
Langworthy said the bill would “remove dead people, illegal immigrants, and able-bodied adults who refuse to work from the Medicaid rolls,” arguing that these changes would protect the program’s core mission. “Medicaid was never meant to be a blank check,” he said. “It’s a lifeline for the vulnerable—not a benefit for those who can work but choose not to.”
He drew comparisons to the bipartisan welfare reforms of the 1990s under President Bill Clinton, which also included work requirements. “It worked then, and it will work now,” Langworthy asserted.
The congressman also criticized Democrats for what he described as political theater during the bill’s committee hearings, saying they had “used individuals as stage props… to stir up fear.” He insisted that “not a single person” among seniors, the disabled, or pregnant women would lose coverage under the proposal.
Langworthy emphasized that he had consulted with hospitals and rural healthcare centers in his district and that their top concern was safeguarding access for eligible patients. “Their message was clear: protect rural healthcare and protect access for those who qualify. That’s exactly what this bill does.”
The legislation, he argued, ensures Medicaid remains a safety net—not a system ripe for abuse. “It ensures that Medicaid is there for the people it was designed to help—not for scammers or those here illegally.”
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