OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Dr. Mehmet Oz met with U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith at Memorial Community Hospital in Blair to discuss Nebraska’s $218 million allocation through the Rural Health Transformation Program.
Established in 2025, the program is set to provide up to $50 billion to states over five years.
Oz and Smith said the funds could help Nebraska hospitals modernize and maintain health care in areas that may lack services.
Leaders with the Nebraska Hospital Association and Nebraska Rural Health Association raised concerns about the program’s effectiveness, saying not enough money is going directly to rural hospitals.
They want funding used to update rural hospital equipment and facilities and recruit medical staff.
“I think if we can look at really focusing in on workforce solutions that drive and help maintain clinics and hospitals, really become a partner within their community,” said Jed Hansen, Nebraska Rural Health Association Executive Director.
The hospital leaders also expressed concern about an estimated $1.1 trillion in health care cuts outlined in the “Big Beautiful Bill” and questioned whether the rural health program would be a sufficient replacement. Oz said the $1.1 trillion figure is inaccurate, saying the legislation addressed a projected increase in Medicaid spending that risked bankrupting the system.
He said Smith and his colleagues in Congress “have saved Medicaid.”
Hospital leaders also raised concerns about new Medicaid work requirements.
The Nebraska Hospital Association said the requirements have already left some people without health care. Smith said those requirements are widely supported.
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