Alternative Headline: Families Brace for Medicaid Cuts
[MM Curator Summary]: Anticipating future Medicaid cuts, Nebraska families are already preparing for care disruptions under the Big Beautiful Bill.
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OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Cuts to Medicaid-funded services have many feeling on edge. While some of the impacts of the “Big Beautiful Bill” won’t take effect until 2027, a resident in Weeping Water is already preparing for the worst.
In May, First Alert 6 spoke with Colleen Rothe-Groleau and her older brother, Scott. At the time, she was concerned that proposed cuts to Medicaid would impact Scott’s care.
“Finally, somebody said, ‘What’s the reason that these seizures are coming so fast and they’re getting so bad?” Rothe-Groleau said.
Childhood health problems left Scott multi-handicapped. Colleen is Scott’s guardian, but he lives in an Omaha group home full-time.
A little over a month later, the bill passes, adding more uncertainty to the future of the services he relies on.
“I don’t know exactly where all the monies comes from,” said Colleen. “I do not know how much comes from donors, how much money comes from the federal government, how much money comes from Medicaid, Medicare, I do not know where all the finances are.”
Cuts to healthcare services are something many organizations are keeping tabs on. Experts with the Nebraska Association of Service Providers say its important to start gathering medical documents.
“Get all of that handy or at least know the names of the clinicians and their contact information,” said Executive Director Alana Schriver. “Make sure DHHS and Social Security both have correct address for you, correct phone numbers for you, maybe even a backup phone number or address just to be on the safe side.”
With questions still lingering, Colleen is acting now. Spending thousands to prepare her home to begin caring for Scott, if his services are eliminated. “We have a ramp already built; we need to finish it. We have a bathroom that we are remodeling; we need to finish it,” said Colleen. “There are a number of structural issues that we are trying to keep in place just to prepare.”
If the worst happens, Colleen says she will have to care for Scott full time; which would be challenging. “We already have a house full of people; we already have residents in the house who are disabled,” said Colleen. “My husband is a disabled first responder, there is no way he can be a sole caretaker for my brother. I would have to either work remotely or stop work all together.”
For now, Colleen says she will continue efforts to bring her concerns to state and local lawmakers. Not backing down from the fight to get people like Scott, the care they deserve. She is also keeping an eye on if her husband could lose his coverage under Medicaid, as new work requirements take effect in a few years.
https://www.wowt.com/2025/07/11/nebraska-caregiver-preparing-future-cuts-medicaid/
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