Nebraska

Proposed cuts would harm rural health care • Nebraska Examiner

Published

11 months ago

February 6, 2025

Proposed cuts would harm rural health care • Nebraska Examiner

Nebraska hospitals have a North Star that guides them. Wherever a patient lives in Nebraska, they deserve access to quality care. We must work to ensure our health care providers do not have to choose between financial survival and delivering lifesaving care.

Jeremy Nordquist, president of the Nebraska Hospital Association, speaks during a press conference on Jan. 30, 2023, in Lincoln. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Unfortunately, congressional leadership in Washington has signaled that large cuts to health care services are currently being considered, including major cuts to the Medicaid program.

Medicaid is a major source of health care coverage for Nebraskans in rural areas. Nearly half of all Nebraskans enrolled in Medicaid live in rural counties. These cuts pose severe threats to Nebraska patients and hospitals, particularly in rural communities.

Rural communities need accessible health care to stay strong. Medicaid is essential for protecting hospitals and other critical services in rural Nebraska. Mental health, EMS, home health, hospice, long-term care for older patients and delivering babies for young families are just a few examples of the care delivered in Nebraska.

Medicaid crucial

In our rural hospitals, Medicaid pays for 26% of all emergency room visits, 33% of all births, 43% of all behavioral health services and 44% of all services provided to minor patients.

Rural hospitals are operating on razor-thin margins. The financial picture for Nebraska’s rural hospitals has not improved in recent years, and many are still struggling to operate in the black. In Nebraska, 54% of rural, independent critical access hospitals are operating at a loss. The average operating margin was only 1.4% for rural hospitals, well below a sustainable operating margin.

These tough financial conditions have forced more than 20% of Nebraska hospitals to reduce or eliminate services in the past two years – vital services like labor and delivery and behavioral health.

Federal health care cuts would harm rural hospitals in Nebraska that are already struggling to stay open. Rural hospitals and patients need meaningful support from lawmakers.

Razor-thin margins

Medicaid is crucial for providing health coverage to children and families in rural and small communities, ensuring access to essential health care. In fact, 55 of Nebraska’s rural counties surpass the state’s average Medicaid enrollment. If lawmakers want to do more than pay lip service to retaining labor and delivery care, behavioral health and senior care in Nebraska, they must protect programs like Medicaid.

We need Nebraskans to speak up and stop these cuts to health care that will dismantle the hospital safety net and destroy access to care in rural communities. Please act today! Visit ProtectRuralHealthCare.com to make your voice heard.

Jeremy Nordqust is president of the Nebraska Hospital Association. Nordquist served in the Nebraska Legislature from 2009 to 2015 and as a chief of staff in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2015 to 2020.

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Nebraska

Nebraska legend Ndamukong Suh picked for College Football Hall of Fame

Published

58 minutes ago

January 14, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska legend Ndamukong Suh picked for College Football Hall of Fame

Nebraska legend Ndamukong Suh was selected to the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame class. Suh is one of 18 players announced by the National Football Foundation and the College Football Hall of Fame.

Suh played at Nebraska from 2005 to 2009. His senior season is one of the legendary seasons in college football.

During that year, he played in 14 games and recorded 85 tackles, 20.5 for loss, and 12.0 sacks. He was a finalist for the 2009 Heisman trophy and was the first defensive player named the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year.

The Portland, Oregon native was drafted second overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2009 NFL draft. He also played for Miami, Los Angeles, Tampa Bay and Philadelphia during his NFL career.

Suh becomes the 21st Nebraska player inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He is the fourth Husker defensive lineman, joining Wayne Meylan, Rich Glover and Grant Wistrom.

The 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will officially be inducted on Dec. 8, 2026, at Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.

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Nebraska

Two Nebraska schools receive national recognition for academic achievement

Published

13 hours ago

January 14, 2026

Press Room

Two Nebraska schools receive national recognition for academic achievement

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Two Nebraska schools have been nationally recognized for academic achievement. One of the schools is here in Omaha.

Adams Elementary in Omaha and Bridgeport Elementary in Bridgeport are among the 63 schools nationwide named to the 2025 National ESEA Distinguished Schools.

Nebraska’s Department of Education says Adams Elementary was recognized for closing the achievement gap between student groups.

Bridgeport Elementary is recognized for exceptional student performance and academic growth.

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Nebraska

2026 Men’s NCAA Tournament Projections: Nebraska Jumps to No. 1 Seed, Michigan Falls

Published

1 day ago

January 13, 2026

Press Room

2026 Men’s NCAA Tournament Projections: Nebraska Jumps to No. 1 Seed, Michigan Falls

Is Nebraska for real? That’s the million-dollar question at the midway point of the 2025-26 men’s college basketball season.

The Cornhuskers sit at 16-0 heading into a home matchup against Oregon on Tuesday night. They’re one of just five remaining undefeated teams in Division 1, but is that enough for Fred Hoiberg’s team to be pegged as a No. 1 seed?

With a loaded week of college basketball on deck, FOX Sports bracket forecaster Mike DeCourcy is here to share his latest NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament projections.

Here’s where DeCourcy’s projected bracket stands on Jan. 13.

EAST REGION

SOUTH REGION

MIDWEST REGION

WEST REGION

And it’s never too early to check in on the bubble.

According to DeCourcy’s projections, Texas A&M, Indiana, Missouri and Virginia Tech are the last four teams in the tournament, while UCLA, Ohio State, NC State and TCU are the first four out.

As for conference representation, the SEC leads the way with 10 teams in DeCourcy’s latest tournament projections, followed by the Big Ten and ACC with nine teams, the Big 12 with eight teams and the Big East with four teams. The West Coast Conference and Atlantic 10 also have two teams each.

Selection Sunday is two months away, and these projections will inevitably evolve. But for now, DeCourcy’s latest bracket forecast offers a clear snapshot of who’s rising, who’s falling, and which programs are already building the résumés they’ll need when March arrives.

Michael DeCourcy covers college basketball for FOX Sports with an emphasis on NCAA Tournament bracket projections. He has appeared on FOX Sports college basketball game broadcasts, while also serving as a college basketball studio analyst with Big Ten Network. He has been covering college basketball for nearly three decades at the Sporting News. You can follow him at @tsnmike.

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