LINCOLN —Nebraska’s Legislature recently held a public hearing where healthcare workers, advocates, and others raised serious concerns about Gov. Jim Pillen’s proposed $152 million reduction to the Department of Health and Human Services, part of broader efforts to address the state’s budget challenges. Supporters of DHHS services warned that deep cuts could hurt essential programs that support vulnerable populations, including Medicaid and other health services, even as DHHS officials said they could manage the reductions without harming core functions.

Lawmakers and advocates questioned the impact of the reductions during budget planning, emphasizing potential threats to access to care and program effectiveness for Nebraskans who rely on DHHS services. Agency leaders maintained that the cuts could be absorbed through changes in operations and funding strategies, but public testimony highlighted widespread anxiety about the consequences of shrinking support for health and human services across the state.

For the full article, click HERE.