A recent survey conducted by Harvard Medical School and Public Citizen indicates that approximately 30,000 residents in Nebraska may lose their health insurance amid ongoing Medicaid cuts being discussed in the Senate. Researchers utilized the proposed legislation along with prior studies concerning the impacts of losing coverage to forecast potential repercussions. Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, a senior author of the study, underscored the likely consequences. She pointed out that without Medicaid, many individuals could face barriers in accessing preventive care and medications. The study further estimates a rise in death rates, predicting an additional 66 fatalities annually across the state.
These proposed cuts could impose serious strains on Nebraska’s healthcare system as well. Jeremy Nordquist, the president of the Nebraska Hospital Association, shared insights on the critical situation. “Several rural hospitals have shut down recently, and just last week, they closed inpatient services, leaving only the emergency room operational,” he stated. This development forces patients from rural areas to travel significant distances—between 50 to 70 miles—for care. Nordquist cautioned that these cuts might lead to even more hospital closures.
“We’re barely keeping half of our hospitals afloat, and to make matters worse, Congress is contemplating an additional $1 trillion reduction to Medicaid, which is already threatening our fragile healthcare system,” he explained. He also emphasized that if federal funding were to be cut, the financial repercussions would ultimately fall on the state. “It’s quite unlikely that Congress will find the necessary funds to cover these federal cuts,” he noted.
Nordquist expressed concern over the potential for permanent hospital closures throughout Nebraska. “Medicaid plays a crucial role in how hospitals maintain financial stability,” he remarked. “If those funds are slashed, we won’t have adequate resources to support the healthcare needs of our communities.” He added that the impact would extend beyond just healthcare providers, particularly in rural areas. Nordquist strongly urged Nebraska’s legislative representatives to oppose these cuts. Efforts to reach out to Senators Pete Ricketts and Deb Fischer for their comments yielded no response.
