Congress is working on their next COVID 19 relief package and so far there is no funding increase for Medicaid included in it. That’s concerning according to Johnathan Hladik Policy Manger for the Center for Rural Affairs as rural states are more dependent on that type of funding to provide needed services.

He says paying for Medicaid is a challenge, especially for smaller states, like Nebraska so having enough federal support becomes even more necessary.

Hladik says what makes it even more difficult for states like Nebraska is that tax revenues have been falling so it’s even more difficult to provide funds for Medicaid.

Hladik says rural communities and farmers and ranchers themselves depend a great deal on positive Medicaid services.