Medicaid has been a trending topic over the last few months after the Trump administration's so-called big Beautiful bill included cuts to the program.

The Kentucky General Assembly established the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board in late May to help manage the state's system.

That board met yesterday to hear more on how federal cuts will impact the Commonwealth.

Our Emily Sisk tells us about the warning from the Kentucky Hospital Association.

In tonight's legislative update.

Our patients don't have the luxury of pretending there are no cuts to Medicaid.

The president of the Kentucky Hospital Association spoke out on Wednesday detailing the potential fallout from President Donald Trump's big, beautiful bill.

When it comes to Medicaid cuts, hospitals are going to be forced to reduce services, lay off highly trained and talented staff and in some cases see cease operations altogether.

Galvani shared that right now, Kentucky takes part in a hospital improvement program.

That means that Kentucky hospitals receive federal funding for the cost of providing care to Medicaid patients.

She said that's because Medicaid doesn't adequately cover the cost on its own.

Medicaid base payments cover about 82% of the actual cost.

When the Big Beautiful bill takes effect, that rate improvement program will be phased down by 90%.

It can't help but have a negative effect for health care in this Commonwealth.

And that's not fearmongering.

It's simply a fact.

So what could it mean for Kentucky galvanized over some of the health care services that might be at risk?

OB is oftentime the first thing that closes.

You do see emergency rooms closing.

You see behavioral health that has closed.

Those are the types of things that they are.

Money losing services.

And sometimes those are the first things to go.

This is important because half of all the births in our state are covered by Medicaid.

The University of North Carolina published a list of rural hospitals that are at highest risk of closing due to Medicaid cuts.

Kentucky's list had 35 hospitals, the highest number of any state.

Governors say.

While it's not yet determined if any facilities on the list will shut down.

The realistic number could be lower or even higher.

60% of hospitals costs are in their staff, their wages.

It could be up to 20,000 jobs lost.

No hospital is going to want to close.

They're going to try everything to not close.

Kentucky has time to act, however, before all the changes are implemented.

Phasing down of the hospital rate improvement program won't begin until 2028.

When Kentucky lawmaker was optimistic that the state can find solutions.

We have about a five year window opportunity to accomplish it.

I have no doubt that Kentucky is best and well situated to do that.

I see that as an opportunity challenge.

Galvano pointed out that if services must close, it will impact all patients, not just those on Medicaid.

For Kentucky Edition, I'm Emily Sisk.

The Kentucky Hospital Association president said the group understands that the General Assembly can't replace billions of dollars of federal funding, but they will be asking for lawmakers support during the upcoming legislative session.