NEBRASKA CITY –  Wes Halvorsen, president of the Otoe County Democrats, was among a dozen protesters in Nebraska City Friday calling attention to impacts cuts in Medicaid and Medicare would have on nursing homes and hospitals in rural Nebraska.

Halvorsen: “We need more access to health care, not less because we all care about our neighbors and loved one. … Our hospitals and various health care services are already stretched pretty tight and without that federal funding it makes it really hard for them to make it and for all of us to be able to have accessible health care in rural Nebraska.”

April Isaacs joined the afternoon protest saying she wants to make sure politicians know that grandmas are among those unhappy with government dragging its feet or subverting issues after they have been approved by voter referendum. Many years ago, she participated in a sit-in at her high school, but says what is happening in the country in recent years is motivating her to come out despite the hot temperature.

Isaacs: “I protested the first time Trump was elected and the second time what he’s doing scares me even more.”

Heidi Smith of Nebraska City organized the protest to show the people of southeast Nebraska they are not alone and can work together to bring change.

 

 

Smith: “The protests are not just in the big cities. We’re bringing it to rural Nebraska so the politicians see us, hear us and hopefully listen to us.”

Janet Wright of Nebraska City said she fears that the new work requirements for Medicaid do not allow for intellectual disabilities. She said her son could not meet the 20-hour work week requirement without a job coach there with him the whole time. Even if there were a job coach available, she said, the income would cause him to lose his supplemental Social Security income.

Wright: “The Medicaid work requirement is a real concern. If it doesn’t include invisible disability exemptions, it’s just not feasible for millions of those on Medicaid with that situation.”

Halvorsen said the number of people attending Otoe County Democrats meetings are growing and rural health care is a common concern.