June 30, 2025

LINCOLN, NEB. - The Nebraska Hospital Association strongly condemns a proposed amendment by Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) to the Senate budget reconciliation package, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

"A vote in favor of this amendment is a vote to undermine Medicaid expansion, dismantle coverage for Nebraska’ working families, and destabilize Nebraska’s entire health care system," said Jeremy Nordquist, President of the Nebraska Hospital Association.

The amendment would gut the federal funding structure for Medicaid expansion by slashing the match rate for individuals who temporarily lose coverage and reapply. Instead of the 90% federal match provided to expansion states like Nebraska, these individuals would only be eligible at the lower, traditional FMAP rate—an unworkable policy shift that would punish low-income workers for short-term disruptions and force Nebraska’s budget to either absorb massive costs or cut coverage.

According to the minority staff of the Joint Economic Committee, 127,000 Nebraskans stand to lose coverage if the Scott amendment is adopted.

“This amendment isn’t a tweak—it’s an assault on Medicaid and a direct attack to hospitals in every Nebraska community,” said Nordquist. “It would blow a hole in our state’s health care safety net, force hospitals to make impossible choices to reduce services, and rip coverage away from tens of thousands of Nebraskans. We strongly urge our Senators to reject this reckless and harmful proposal.”

The Nebraska Hospital Association calls on Nebraska’s U.S. Senators to vote NO on the Scott amendment and defend the care, coverage, and stability that millions of patients—and every hospital in Nebraska—depend on.