One-in-four Nevadans are on Medicaid, the program designed to help lower-income, disabled, and elderly people with basic health needs.
It’s funded using state and federal money. In 2023, Medicaid funding totaled more than $6 billion with about a billion coming from the state. So any changes to the financing on the federal level could have a dramatic impact on the state’s healthcare system.
One current budget proposal being considered by congressional Republicans would slash more than $880 billion from the budget. That could lead to Nevada losing about $1.9 billion in federal support over the next two years. Medicaid helps cover health issues for roughly 300,000 Nevadans
It’s a worst case scenario for some.
“Medicaid is, in my opinion, the backbone of a lot of the healthcare system in this state and most states and this country,” said Stacie Weeks, Nevada’s medicaid administrator.
For Weeks, the evidence clearly shows that keeping those people insured is better for the state in the long run.
“We have seen time and time again, when more people are uninsured, it is not good for the economy,” Weeks said. “It is not good for jobs and economics. It is not good for the healthcare system. It really puts strain on our rural providers and our rural hospitals.”
The potential changes in federal funding come as state lawmakers are already considering a major overhaul of the state’s healthcare administration.
During his State of the State address in January, Republican Governor Joe Lombardo announced plans to split the Department of Health and Human Services in two by creating a Nevada Health Authority. Lombardo has already tapped Weeks to lead the agency.
She says it’s a good opportunity for the state to improve efficiencies and services.
“I think it can move us forward in a way that makes fulfilling our roles and responsibilities for the public easier and clearer,” said Weeks. “I think it creates more efficiencies because we can actually take some of the things that we're doing in healthcare across different agencies and align (them) that so we're all working toward the same goal.”
Before the Nevada Health Authority can be created, state lawmakers must sign off on the plans to split the Department of Health and Human Services. That bill has not yet been introduced.
Guest: Stacie Weeks, administrator, Nevada Medicaid and leader, Nevada Health Authority
