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January jobs report: Unemployment rate falls to 4%, wages rise more than forecast; Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel; Ten Commandments in public schools debate reaches South Dakota; Virginia ranks among worst states for wage theft; Mexican long-nosed bat makes appearance in Arizona.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi strikes a Trump tone at the Justice Department, federal workers get more time to consider buyouts, and an unclassified email request from the White House worries CIA vets.

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During Black History Month, a new book shares how a unique partnership built 5,000 schools for Black students, anti-hunger advocates say ag communities would benefit from an expanded SNAP program, and Americans have $90 billion in unpaid medical bills.

Report: Possible Medicaid cuts put rural Nevadans in jeopardy

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Wednesday, January 22, 2025   

Congressional leaders are considering what some are calling "highly consequential decisions" about the future of Medicaid - and advocates are weighing in. The Medicaid budget cuts proposed by U.S. House Republicans approach $2.5 trillion, and a new report from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families says they'd affect adults and children in rural Nevada, who rely more heavily on Medicaid for health coverage than people in cities.

Joan Alker, executive director of the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families and the report lead author, said the proposed cuts are "horrifying," and suggests Nevadans might be caught off guard because the program wasn't heavily discussed on the campaign trail last fall.

"There was complete silence about it, despite the fact that it is the largest source of public coverage by far in the United States. It's also a very popular program with the voters of all political stripes," she said.

The report finds there is about a 5% difference among adults in the Silver State who have Medicaid in metro areas versus rural areas. Alker added that if the cuts are enacted, the impacts will be felt across communities, businesses and healthcare systems. States would be forced to raise new revenues, or eliminate coverage for some people and cover fewer health services.

Alker said that Medicaid helps people get ahead of health challenges through preventive care - that many couldn't afford otherwise.

"People wind up sicker and then, they're in the emergency room, and children can't get their asthma inhalers and they miss school," she continued.

With the data her team compiled, Alker says it's clear rural America would feel the most harm as smaller towns and cities struggle to keep robust healthcare systems in place. Nevada's health care system already ranks among the lowest in the country, plagued with disparities across racial and ethnic groups as well.

Disclosure: Georgetown University Center for Children & Families contributes to our fund for reporting on Children's Issues, Health Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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