Nevada officials told lawmakers that federal Medicaid changes could reduce coverage and supplemental hospital payments, while the state awaits guidance expected in June.
Federal changes and state planning
Nevada Current reported that Nevada will begin losing hundreds of millions of dollars in supplemental Medicaid payments to the state’s hospitals next year under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Hospital administrators told lawmakers that the state will need to reckon with those impacts when setting its next biennium budget, according to Nevada Current.
The report said the anticipated loss of supplemental payments is one part of broader health care concerns tied to H.R. 1. Nevada Health Authority Director Stacey Weeks told lawmakers that states are waiting for federal guidance expected in June, Nevada Current reported.
Medicaid coverage changes
According to Nevada Current, more than 147,000 Nevadans on Medicaid are set to be affected by H.R. 1. The changes described in the report include new work requirements for adults without children, limits on coverage eligibility for lawful immigrants, and higher co-pays for adults without children.
Nevada Current reported that these provisions are scheduled to begin Jan. 1, 2027. Ann Jensen, Nevada’s Medicaid administrator, told lawmakers that 70,000 people could lose Medicaid coverage. Nevada Current said Jensen based that estimate on reports from other states showing a 50% drop-off.
Concerns about uninsured Nevadans
Nevada already has the nation’s sixth-highest uninsured rate, according to KFF figures cited by Nevada Current. The report said that if the estimated 70,000 people lose Medicaid coverage, the total number of uninsured Nevadans would reach almost 500,000.
Nevada State Sen. Fabian Doñate told a legislative Joint Health and Human Services committee meeting that Nevada could face an economic crisis as more residents become uninsured and lose Medicaid coverage, according to Nevada Current. The report presented the comments alongside concerns about the effect on hospitals and the state’s future budget planning.
What this means for Nevada patients
For Nevadans looking for treatment locally, insurance and Medicaid coverage changes may be important to follow as state officials await federal guidance. The directory lists 54 published clinics in Nevada, which may help people identify local treatment options.
This is general information, not medical advice.
More Nevada reporting on access & coverage.
This report is educational and is not medical advice. Coverage, availability and eligibility can change; verify details with the named source or your care team.