FAIRMONT – With the Trump Administration looking to freeze nearly $260 million in Medicaid funding, and the state of Minnesota suing for a majority of that funding to be unfrozen, Faribault and Martin County Health and Human Services (FMCHS) are left at the mercy of unresolved issues at the higher-up levels.

Financial Assistance Manager Nicole Worlds said she first heard about it through the media, and then received an email from the Minnesota Department of Human Services discussing the situation. Since then, the only word they’ve received is to press on.

“We’ve received word from Department of Human Services that clients should still be using their benefits,” Worlds said. “They should still be able to go to the doctor. They should still be able to get their prescriptions filled. None of those things should change right now.”

While they’re full steam ahead with ensuring people get what they need, they’re still in an awkward and uncertain situation as they look forward.

“[The state] hasn’t said a whole lot to us, other than the fact that the state does not have the money just to cover that cost themselves,” Worlds said. “We’re not sure exactly how it’s going to play out in the future, but as of right now, we’re just left in this place of limbo, which isn’t very helpful.”

Right now, Worlds said her staff has not received a large influx of calls regarding the situation, but that doesn’t account for the whole office, and effects are still being felt.

“I think just our clientele, there’s so much, the ripple effect of all of these things, so much uncertainty that a lot of people are nervous,” she said.

Regardless, Worlds said the only way they can proceed for the betterment of Martin and Faribault Counties is forward.

“Not to feed into the fear, just to keep doing business as usual until we hear more,” she said.