(KLZA)-- The Humboldt City Auditorium was the site of a town hall meeting last week with a number of speakers outlining some of the likely effects the so-called Big Beautiful Bill being considered in Washington D.C. will have for Nebraskan's due to how it will impact the state's healthcare system and its budget.
Around 75 persons turned out for the meeting.
Under the House bill, it is estimated that somewhere between 29,000 and 57,000 Nebraska residents would be at risk of losing healthcare coverage. In 2024, 364,000 Nebraskan's were enrolled in the Medicaid program and that 47% of children born in rural areas are on Medicaid.
The version of the bill passed by the House of Representatives would result in cuts to Medicaid and to the Affordable Care Act which are programs that more than 474,000 Nebraskan's rely on for health insurance coverage according to Sarah Maresh, the health care access program director for Nebraska Appleseed.
The Nebraska Hospital Association estimates that Medicaid cuts proposed recently by Senate Republicans would have a devastating impact on the states rural hospitals of which 44% are already operating at a loss.
Nemaha County Hospital CEO Marty Fattig talked about some of the potential problems with the Big Beautiful Bill, which included the gutting of the provider tax passed in Nebraska in 2024 which helps fund Medicaid. Fattig feels it could put the future of rural hospital at risk.
Despite the financial struggles by rural hospitals across the state, Fattig said the rural hospitals in Falls City and Auburn are holding up well.
Other speakers include John Hansen, President of the Nebraska Farmers Union and Rebecca Firestone with the Open Sky Policy Institute.
Firestone said the reason for proposed cut to healthcare is to pay for tax cuts without running up the federal deficit.
Hansen suggested people concerned about passage of the Big Beautiful Bill contact their representatives in Washington D.C. and relay their concerns.
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