Experts and advocates paint dire picture of effects of possible Medicaid cuts on Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A virtual meeting was held on Thursday by a range of speakers concerned about the proposed Medicaid cuts in President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”

Presenters included the former administrator of the Centers for Medicare for Medicaid Services, a state senator and a University of Nebraska Medical Center official.

All painted a picture of devastation if the deep cuts pass.

SEE ALSO: Protesters rally against ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ outside Ricketts’ offices across Nebraska

“Republicans in the House and Senate are pushing forth legislation that would undo 15 years of progress,” said Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the former CMS administrator.

She said people and providers throughout the country “would all face repercussions” if the cuts go through.

Opponents said 16 million Americans would lose essential benefits, such as the 40% of labor and deliveries that the program covers, as well as aid to disabled patients and seniors.

SEE ALSO: Nebraska hospitals say Senate bill’s proposed Medicaid cuts put key services at risk

State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh said vulnerable communities would be affected the most, such as seniors and low-income people.

“Unfortunately, our balanced budget is only balanced on paper,” she said. “And it doesn’t take into account any of the proposed changes to Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, child care eligibility. So, everything that’s being discussed at a federal level would affect the state budget, which will then affect every single Nebraskan.”

She anticipates that 55,000 vulnerable Nebraskans could lose coverage and describes the intention of the cuts as a question of morals.

“Instead of cutting tax incentives for the wealthy, we cut safety nets for families,” Cavanaugh said.

She said requiring so much oversight of those receiving benefits would “penalize them with paperwork.”

SEE ALSO: Rep. Mike Flood defends ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ at Seward town hall

David Palm, director of the Center for Health Policy at UNMC, said the bill aims to reducing Medicare by $800 billion to $880 billion.

“We don’t know where the Medicaid cuts will come from exactly, but in terms of policy changes, there’s a lot of policy options out there to make cuts,” he said.

Palm also said a tedious reenrollment process will have a ripple effect.

SEE ALSO: ‘Medicaid saved my life’: Lincoln woman camps out at Bacon’s office to protest proposed cuts

With the legislative session already over, Cavanaugh said her colleagues don’t seem to be concerned about the cuts, as they view them as a future problem.

“I do not exaggerate when I say that there is no response,” she said.