Naples Daily News | Opinion
Earlier this month, the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) was signed into law. This expansive legislation will change how health care is funded and delivered, especially through Medicaid. While the intent of the law is to reduce federal spending and promote personal responsibility, it may also bring unintended consequences.
The restructuring of Medicaid means federal funding to Florida will now be capped, even as the cost of care continues to rise. Medicaid already reimburses providers below the cost of delivering care, and these reductions make it even more difficult to sustain services for Medicaid patients without jeopardizing financial stability. In addition, new work requirements could cause many low-income adults to lose coverage, and the introduction of $35 monthly copays may make Medicaid unaffordable for others. As a result, patients may delay care, putting their health at greater risk, or they may turn to emergency departments for routine needs, driving up costs and slowing down access for everyone.
For community-based, nonprofit health systems like NCH, these changes only add to existing pressures. We are already navigating reduced reimbursements, inflation, workforce shortages, and the growing need to invest both in aging infrastructure and in the advanced medical facilities our region deserves. The challenges are real, but what has not changed—and what will not change—is our mission: helping people in our region live longer, happier, and healthier lives.
Our strategy for delivering on that mission is rooted in quality. Quality is what allows us to endure financial and regulatory shifts and to adapt to unexpected crises, including global pandemics. It is also what propels innovation, attracts leading physicians, encourages community support, and ensures that patients in Southwest Florida receive the best possible outcomes.
That commitment to quality has been recognized on a national level. In 2024 alone, our Simulation Center delivered more than 20,000 hours of advanced training and was honored by Becker’s Review. We received The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval for Comprehensive Stroke Center Accreditation—the only such award in West Florida. Healthgrades named NCH among the top 1% of health systems in the country for overall clinical performance, while Money Magazine ranked our cardiology program among the nation’s Top 50. We also continue to invest in the future of care, building facilities like the R.M. Schulze Family Heart & Stroke Critical Care Center and partnering with HSS to bring the world’s number-one rated orthopedic care to Naples and the surrounding communities.
But beyond the accolades, our greatest measure of success lies in the countless stories of friends and neighbors who have turned to us for primary, emergency, and specialty care and who now enjoy better health and a higher quality of life. More patients—both snowbirds and year-round residents—are choosing NCH because of our unwavering focus on quality. Insurance carriers are partnering with us for the same reason, ensuring their members have access to our physicians, facilities, and care teams.
The One Big Beautiful Bill may make delivering exceptional health care even more complex. Yet, in the face of change, our focus remains constant. At NCH, quality is not just a strategy—it is a promise. It is what ensures that we remain your trusted, independent Advanced Community Health System™, today and for generations to come.
Read the Naples Dailey News article here: Opinion | Naples Daily News