Speaker Johnson’s smart rejection of Medicaid per capita caps and FMAP reductions is a win for taxpayers, exposing wasteful spending that House Republicans aimed to cut by $2.3 trillion. FMAP, which dictates federal contributions to state Medicaid, has been a crutch for states like New York, receiving the minimum 50% match. Cutting FMAP would have forced states to rethink their bloated budgets. 

Johnson’s stance is a step toward fiscal responsibility, but the COVER Now Act remains a fallback for red-state regions. Maintaining FMAP for now avoids immediate chaos, but deeper reforms are needed to tackle Medicaid’s long-term sustainability.