“I've held the hands of parents who couldn't afford their child's medication. Healthcare isn't a political issue to me — it's the reason I became a nurse. Every Utahn deserves access to care.”
— Nicole Melling
As a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, I've spent my career on the front lines of healthcare. I've sat with families who are rationing medication, skipping appointments, and making impossible choices between paying for treatment and keeping the lights on. This isn't theoretical for me — it's my daily work.
The Facts
77,000–237,000 Utahns
could lose Medicaid coverage under proposed federal OBBBA legislation, according to KFF and Utah DHHS estimates
Source: KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation)Voter-approved expansion
Utah voters approved Medicaid expansion through a ballot initiative, extending coverage to tens of thousands
Source: Utah DHHS (medicaid.utah.gov)Mental health provider shortage
Utah faces significant gaps in mental health provider availability, especially in rural communities
Source: Salt Lake Tribune