Officials warn Medicaid changes and hospital closures are straining local care and emergency services

YADEN — Area hospital closures and the possible expiration of Medicaid expansion funding are increasing pressure on remaining hospitals, driving higher uncompensated care and stretching emergency services, speakers said at the borough's mayor's forum on May 22.

Joy Hepkins, a nurse navigator at Mercy Fitzgerald, told residents that Medicare and Medicaid are separate federal-state programs that together support hospital revenue and patient access. "Medicaid is a public health insurance program that's for families and people who have limited income or no income," Hepkins said, adding that the program is funded by a mix of federal and state dollars administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Hepkins said the Medicaid expansion enacted under the Affordable Care Act increased coverage after the COVID-19 pandemic and that its expiration would reduce coverage and increase uncompensated care for hospitals. "Without [the expansion], the loss of that coverage ... will increase our taxes, and there'll be no or limited or none in insurance coverage for those who need it," she said.

The foru…