(The Center Square) – Nevada could lose almost $1.9 billion for a Medicaid expansion program if Congress approves U.S. House Republicans’ plan to slash the federal budget, according to state officials.
President Donald Trump last week backed the House GOP’s budget, but told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that he didn’t feel it would be necessary to cut Medicaid or Medicare.
In Nevada, state Democratic Senate leaders received a letter last week in which Richard Whitley, director of the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, warned them that the House Republicans’ plan could mean a $1.9 billion loss in Medicaid for the state.
More than 312,000 Nevada residents were covered by the state’s expansion of Medicaid in June, according to KFF, the nonprofit formerly known as The Kaiser Family Foundation.
The state couldn’t afford to fill the gap if federal funding is cut, Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager told Fox 5, a Las Vegas area TV station.
Medicaid serves slightly more than 800,000 Nevadans, or one in four of the state’s residents, Yeager, D-Clark County, said.
Additionally, 32,000 kids are covered by Nevada’s Children’s Health Insurance Program, Yeager said. Like Medicaid, CHIP is jointly funded by Nevada and the federal government.
Yeager noted 37% of the state’s Medicaid budget is covered by federal funding.
“So we stand to lose a lot if these cuts are enacted,” the speaker said.
