Kentuckians are trying to learn more about how the Trump Administration's “Big Beautiful Bill” will impact their lives.
The health policy organization, Kaiser Family Foundation, says the bill is extremely complicated and few of the provisions are direct cuts to benefits such as Medicaid.
Medicaid covers around half of Kentucky’s children, and 70% of seniors’ long-term care costs. Larry Levitt is the Executive Vice President for Health Policy for KFF. During a press call, he said these changes would impact programs like the ACA and Medicaid indirectly.
“Some people would also fall through the cracks because they would be required to renew their Medicaid coverage more frequently, every six months. Regulations issued by the Biden Administration would be stopped, these include measures to make enrollment easier and beef up staff at nursing homes.”
He said the fate of rural hospitals is another reason to worry.
“One of the big concerns during the debate in the Senate was the effect on rural hospitals. A temporary $50 billion rural health fund was added, but it will not fully compensate for the cuts, because the fund is temporary, but the cuts are permanent.”
A recent study shows that Kentucky has 35 rural hospitals at risk of closing because of cuts.
