Medicaid faces potential funding cuts, leading some people to worry about the medical services that will be available to them. One of those is ambulance and emergency services. In Rowan County, emergency medical services are supported by local officials and surrounding counties. Director of Rowan County EMS, Homer Lewis said even if there are cuts, services will remain in place for everyone in the county who needs them.
“Anytime Medicare talks about cutting, everybody kind of holds a tight breath. Because, we’re still going to roll, regardless if you have insurance or not,” said Lewis. “So, the cost is still going to be there, the workload is going to be there, the money may just get a little bit tighter.”
The proposed congressional budget would withdraw $880 billion in Medicaid funding, leaving thousands of Kentuckians without healthcare insurance. 44.1% of eastern Kentuckians, more than 316,000 people, are covered by Medicaid. In Rowan County, 47% of residents rely on government healthcare.
“That includes Medicare and Medicaid. They are definitely your two biggest payers for the state of Kentucky. Seems to be, as our population ages,” said Lewis.
Lewis said people with medical emergencies should not hesitate to call if assistance is needed.