From Milestone to Crossroads, Medicaid & Medicare are Under Fire 60 Years Later

Nevada - On July 30, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed legislation establishing the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Now, 60 years later, these programs continue to safeguard the health and well-being of millions of American families, including hundreds of thousands right here in Nevada.

Initially designed as basic health insurance for those without coverage, Medicare and Medicaid have undergone significant evolution, ensuring broader access to quality and affordable healthcare. In Nevada, these programs have been instrumental in reducing uninsured rates, supporting rural hospitals, and enhancing care for seniors, children, and individuals with disabilities.

However, as we approach the 60th anniversary, these vital programs face unprecedented threats from proposed cuts, risking critical services and coverage for Nevadans who rely on them the most. Such cuts could jeopardize the health and financial security of vulnerable populations, including seniors, children, rural residents, and individuals with disabilities.

As we celebrate the remarkable achievements of Medicare and Medicaid, we must also actively defend and advocate for these programs. To that end, we collected video testimonials from community members who have benefited from Medicaid and Medicare, demonstrating the critical need for these programs.

Dr. Megan McGrew, CEO of Impact ABA Services, issued the following statement:

“I would say probably close to 100% of our adult clients are supported in some way by Medicaid to receive their services. We are the providers who are called in, often when all else has failed. Our clients rely on this funding to live, just to be able to sometimes exist in an environment as simple as a home. There is nothing else. There is no additional safety net. Medicaid is the safety net. So in the absence of the support that these individuals need, not only will it just break people, it will destroy lives.”

José Ramírez, Member of Make The Road Nevada, issued the following statement:

“Medicare is a big help to me. Without that help, I don’t know what I’d do. My monthly pension only covers rent and bills. My poor wife helps me, cares for me, and helps us get by with meals. What else can one do? I can’t do more. If they take it away, it's like a death sentence. God willing, the representatives see this and help those in need.”

Amber Falgout, Communications Director with Institute for a Progressive Nevada, issued the following statement:

“This is an especially tough anniversary given the recently passed and signed ‘One Big Beautiful Bill,’ which guts Medicaid. As a single mother, I was able to benefit from having Medicaid when I was working on my undergraduate degree. Knowing I had stable health insurance allowed me to leave a years-long abusive marriage. Without it, I would not have been able to get my daughter glasses that she desperately needed so she could learn to read. Medicaid provided autonomy, agency, and the ability to care for my child if she got sick. Ripping that away from individuals is cruel. Access to healthcare is a crucial indicator of overall health, educational attainment, and socioeconomic stability. Assistance is not shameful. Individuals need help to succeed in our country. With over 100,000 Nevadans being at risk of losing Medicaid coverage, it is alarming that on the 60th Anniversary of Medicaid and Medicare enactment, it feels as though we need to fight more than ever to ensure the programs survive.”

ABOUT MEDICAID & MEDICARE: Medicaid and Medicare, the nation’s largest and most popular government health care programs, which together provide coverage and services to about 140 million Americans of all ages, including 738,000 in Nevada. Upon passage of the OBBBA, the dramatic cuts to Medicaid will impact services. States that expanded Medicaid after the Affordable Care Act was passed will face a significantly larger cut to Medicaid funding, averaging about 14.5%, compared to the 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid coverage, which will still see an average reduction of 7.9% in funding. In Nevada, 313,000 gained coverage under Medicaid expansion. Early estimates show that 106,766 Nevadans will lose Medicaid under the new law (OBBBA).

SPOKESPEOPLE ARE AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH

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About Institute for a Progressive Nevada: Institute for a Progressive Nevada, through strategic communication efforts, educates, empowers, and engages Nevada voters to build a state where everyone has a fair opportunity to succeed.