KRNV: 'Very alarming:' 114k Nevadans could lose health care in Pres. Trump's 'beautiful bill'

Ben Margiott

Wed, July 2nd 2025 at 3:35 PM

Updated Thu, July 3rd 2025 at 8:51 AM

Northern Nevada HOPES clinic in Reno

Tens of thousands of Nevadans could lose their health care under the latest version of President Donald Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' with one estimate finding as many as 114,000 people could be left without health insurance.

That Joint Economic Committee estimate, which incorporates state-level data and information from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, includes people who would lose access to Medicaid and people who would no longer be on the Affordable Care Act.

In a press call Wednesday, several Nevada health care professionals and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D) detailed how the measure, if ultimately signed into law, would affect the Silver State.

"What the policy of this administration, the Republicans is, we're going to make it harder — even if you're working — we're gonna make it harder for you to be eligible to access these Medicaid dollars," Sen. Cortez Masto said.

"It's just mean and cruel and it really is going to have a negative impact for our kids across the state."

The impacts will be felt most acutely, experts said, by community health centers, which serve significant numbers of patients on Medicaid. For example, Northern Nevada HOPES, which has 3 clinics in Reno, serves 22,000 people annually. 40% of their patients are on Medicaid, said CEO Sharon Chamberlain.

"We will not be able to continue to operate the way that we do currently (if this bill passes). If those individuals lose Medicaid and end up on our sliding fee scale that's based on their income, we don't make enough to pay for the services that we offer. So we will definitely have to look at downsizing," she said.

"It's very alarming."

The primary way people would end up losing health insurance is because of new work requirements for able-bodied adults. Republicans have argued that people should have to prove they are working at least 80 hours a month, are enrolled in school or doing community service to qualify.

But Chamberlain tells News 4-Fox 11 it's an unnecessary burden that will result in people who would otherwise qualify losing health care access for not meeting burdensome reporting requirements.

"We're talking about some of the most vulnerable people. These people might not have scanners and electronic computers to be able to upload and share those things onto sites. This is a burden to an already vulnerable population," she said.

A spokeswoman for Rep. Mark Amodei, the Republican representing northern Nevada in the U.S. House, did not provide a statement regarding the proposed Medicaid cuts. She told News 4-Fox 11 he would release a statement after the vote.

00:00

01:44