US Congress-Ky4

 

A Nurse’s Perspective: Why Cost Recovery is Key to Saving Medicaid

 

 

As a nurse who has served on the frontlines of healthcare, I stand in full support of the $200 billion in cost recovery measures over the next four years aimed at preserving and strengthening our Medicaid system. Medicaid is a critical program that must be protected to continue serving those who truly need it, American citizens who depend on it for essential healthcare.

 

These cost recovery efforts specifically target waste, fraud, abuse, duplicated services, billing errors, unnecessary administrative costs, and improper payments, areas where funds are lost due to fraudulent claims, overutilization, or inefficiencies within the system. By addressing these issues, we can ensure that every dollar is used effectively to support patients, not inefficiency. These measures are not about cutting care, they are about sustaining Medicaid for the long term and keeping the focus on patient outcomes and access.

 

The reality is that Medicaid costs have continued to rise year after year, even beyond the COVID-19 era, and if this pattern continues unchecked, it will ultimately cripple the Medicaid system itself. Without responsible action now, we risk jeopardizing care for millions of vulnerable Americans in the future.

 

As healthcare providers, we have a duty to advocate for a system that works smarter, stays strong, and puts patient care first. Cost recovery is one step toward making sure Medicaid can continue to serve future generations.

 

 

Niki Lee Ethington