2 weeks Ago By Joseph Cress The Sentinel
Medicaid cuts could have a grave effect on thousands of Cumberland County residents who rely on the care provided by the Sadler Health Center in downtown Carlisle. That was the prognosis last week by Manal El Harrak, chief executive officer of the nonprofit organization, as policy shifts at the federal level are being felt locally. “Our patients are deeply concerned, and we are concerned about them, too,” she said.
“Medicaid funding allows us to provide affordable health care options for working families, children, low-income seniors, veterans and rural communities. Sadler, along with community health centers nationally, depend primarily on Medicaid and federal grants to sustain their operations.” Medicaid reimbursement for patient services accounts for half of Sadler’s total annual revenue, covering nearly 60% of the patients, El Harrak said.
“At this stage of uncertainty, we are monitoring our expenses very closely and reducing our budget as much as possible without impacting patient services. “If people who are currently covered by Medicaid can no longer get it, they can still get services at our health center,” she said. “But they likely will come through our doors without insurance at all.
We only collect a fraction of the revenue from people who are uninsured than we do from people with insurance.” Meanwhile, Cumberland County Commissioner Jean Foschi has concerns about the broader scope of need. She spoke out recently against the plan by the Trump administration to slash 10,000 workers from the U.
S. Department of Health and Human Services. Word has come down to the state level that grant money for some programs may be cut, Foschi said.
“It’s something I’m keeping a very close eye on. One of the biggest things that we do [as county government] is deliver human services. We need those dollars that pass from the federal government to the state.
” In 2024, Cumberland County received just over $23 million in federal funds, including about $14.9 million earmarked for human services, according to data provided by the county communications office. Of the $14.
9 million, about $1.6 million came in the form of direct payments from the federal government to Cumberland County. The remaining $13.
3 million was passed on through the state. This time around, uncertainty at the federal level is causing chaos and alarm at the state and county levels at a time when officials in Harrisburg and Carlisle are trying to formulate annual budgets. State lawmakers have until June 30 to pass a version of the fiscal plan that Gov.
Josh Shapiro outlined in early February. That budget would influence how federal funds are distributed to the counties. “How is the state going to pass a budget when they don’t know what’s coming from the federal government?” Foschi asked.
“I worry about how we’re going to provide services we’re mandated to provide if the federal government shuts off the tap.” Cumberland County commissioners have until June 30 to approve a budget for 2025-26 that consists largely of human services funding with the lion’s share of the money coming from state and federal sources. Typically, commissioners vote in May to place that budget on public view pending a vote on final approval in June before the deadline.
“It’s at the core of what we do,” Foschi said. The circumstances this year are making it hard for county staff to prepare the budget, she said. “Uncertainty is not good in any way, shape or form.
“How will we ever help people?” she asked, mentioning low-income families, veterans, senior citizens and people with addiction and mental health issues. “We’re public servants,” Foschi said. “We take care of people.
We need the tools to do that good work. It’s important for people to be aware these things are happening. Citizens need to let their elected officials know how important these services are to them.
” “So much is up in the air,” Commissioner Kelly Neiderer said recently, adding a balanced budget for human services is dependent on grant funds coming in as anticipated. Funding cuts are bound to have a ripple effect that could affect such county agencies as the prison and Children & Youth Services, Foschi said. Donald Trump: Mass layoffs have rocked the U.
S. Health and Human Services Department (HHS) as up to 10,000 employees face termination under a sweeping restructuring plan ordered by Donald Trump. The move follows an executive order stripping collective bargaining rights from federal health agencies, sparking outrage among Democratic lawmakers and unions.
Key agencies affected include the FDA, CDC, NIH, and CMS, with major cuts in healthcare oversight, medical research, and public health funding. Critics warn of a devastating impact on disease prevention, pandemic response, and federal healthcare programs. Is this a move for efficiency, or a dangerous power play?#Trump #HealthDepartment #MassLayoffs #HHS #DonaldTrump #USPolitics #JobCuts #HealthcareCrisis #PublicHealth #UnionRights #TrumpExecutiveOrder #CDC #FDA #NIH #Medicare #Medicaid #OneIndia Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
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