Now that the Trump Administration's so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill” has been signed, health advocates in Kentucky are scrambling to help those in need. One of the biggest concerns is a cut to Medicaid.
Around 70% of Kentucky's senior citizens and nearly half of the commonwealth's children rely on the program for long-term care.
Sarah Carter is a social worker who helps cancer patients in western Kentucky. During a recent press call, she said some of the new rules will make things difficult for the people she works with.
“I also have several patients who do not have enough work credits to even be considered for disability. Others haven't been in their current jobs long enough to qualify for their employer's long-term or short-term disability, or the size of their employer is small enough, that the employer doesn't provide insurance.”
She said patients, like the ones she deals with, will suffer greatly because of Medicaid cuts.
“The majority of the patients also do not qualify for disability, and if they do qualify for disability, say through the compassionate allowances, they still would not be eligible for Medicare for 24 months. Patients cannot wait 24 months for treatment.”
Individuals aren't the only ones at risk. A University of North Carolina study commissioned by reports that the cuts from this bill will put 35 rural hospitals across Kentucky in danger of closure, the largest amount in any state.
