Nebraska health care providers reeling from sudden loss of opioid reduction funding

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Nebraska healthcare providers are reeling after a major funding loss.

Federal funding for an opioid reduction program was suddenly pulled in the middle of the funding year.

That money aimed at helping hospitals statewide work with patients.

“These drugs, if they’re not prescribed appropriately and managed appropriately, they are very addictive,” said Nebraska Hospital Assocation President Jeremy Nordquist. “And often the intensity of the drug needs to go up to meet your addiction.”

Their program was testing a new model for care, including aftercare nurses to assist patients long after their procedures.

Nordquist said losing that funding is a blow to those addressing the state’s opioid crisis.

“It means that thousands of Nebraskans that we were going to work with after their procedures in our hospitals aren’t going to get the support they need to ensure they can deal with their pain in a way that doesn’t involve opioids,” he said.

Nordquist added medical providers can warn patients of the dangers when they’re discharged, but without proper follow ups, managing pain long term — especially once doctors stop prescribing said drugs — can turn patients towards other substances.

“If your doctor isn’t going to prescribe it to you anymore, you look for alternative sources,” Nordquist said. “And that’s where we start to see people running into heroin, synthetic fentanyl, that certainly can be deadly.”

So far, a dozen states have filed against the federal government to challenge the cancellation of that funding.

Nordquist said they’re hopeful for a swift resolution so their work can continue.