Statement from the Natrona Collective Health Trust on Federal and State Actions Impacting Our Community’s Health

At the Natrona Collective Health Trust, we are committed to doing our part to create a community where everyone can thrive. And in this work, we’ve found that most people in Natrona County share common goals: affordable, high-quality healthcare; economic stability; and a safe, healthy, resilient community. As the largest private foundation in Wyoming, we take seriously our responsibility to understand how changes in healthcare policy may impact the health and well-being of the people and communities we serve.

We are concerned about the impact of recent decisions and proposed actions at the state and federal levels on the health and well-being of Wyoming residents. Recent actions put rural hospitals and nursing care facilities at risk of closing; community mental health centers face increasing demand without adequate funding; and nonprofits are experiencing uncertainty over funding cuts, hampering their ability to plan effectively and deliver services.

Additionally, federal funding cuts to food banks, mental and behavioral health services, and rural healthcare grants jeopardize access to care and essential resources. In Natrona County alone, executive actions have resulted in losses in funding for the Casper-Natrona County Health Department, Food Bank of Wyoming, Central Wyoming Counseling Center, and Wyoming 211. We are seeing limitations in the ability to respond to public health needs and provide much-needed services and sustenance across our community.

If enacted, proposed cuts to Medicaid would severely impact both patients and providers, particularly in rural communities where safety-net services are already stretched thin. These proposals arrive at a time when Wyoming’s healthcare system is already under strain—facing provider shortages, rising costs, and one of the highest uninsured rates in the country.

At the state level, many essential services are unfunded or underfunded, including maternity care, mental and behavioral health services, early childhood supports, and developmental disability programs. These are not abstract policy matters—they are services that mothers, children, seniors, and working families in our communities rely on every day.

At both levels of government, the actions we’ve described will do little to improve the health and well-being of our communities, nor will they address the critical challenges we face.

As the Natrona Collective Health Trust, we remain committed to building a healthy and thriving community. But we cannot do this work alone. We call on our elected officials—state and federal—to join us in finding practical, people-centered solutions that reflect the values of Wyomingites: resilience, compassion, and a commitment to the common good.

We urge our neighbors, community leaders, and fellow advocates to speak up and stay engaged. Together, we can champion policies that build a healthier future for all.