A bill to prohibit changes to Medicare and Medicaid in reconciliation.

# Summary of S 1903 **What the Bill Would Do** This bill would prevent Congress from making changes to Medicare and Medicaid through a legislative process called "reconciliation." Reconciliation is a special procedure that allows certain budget-related bills to pass the Senate with a simple majority (51 votes) rather than the usual 60-vote supermajority needed to overcome a filibuster. If passed, S 1903 would effectively require any future changes to these two major health programs to follow the standard legislative process. **Who It Affects and Key Provisions** The bill primarily affects Medicare beneficiaries (seniors and some disabled individuals) and Medicaid beneficiaries (low-income individuals and families). It also affects Congress's legislative toolkit.

By removing Medicare and Medicaid from reconciliation eligibility, the bill would make it harder to pass healthcare changes without broad bipartisan support, as sponsors would need 60 Senate votes instead of 51. This is a significant procedural constraint, since both parties have used reconciliation to pass major healthcare legislation. **Current Status** S 1903 is currently in committee and has not advanced further in the legislative process. As a procedural restriction on how Congress operates, it faces questions about whether it could even be implemented through regular legislation, as it would effectively limit the Senate's use of established budget procedures.