Northern Kentucky Healthcare Faces Nursing Shortages, Rising Costs

Regional healthcare leaders warn of ongoing nurse shortages, rising costs and Medicaid policy changes that could strain hospitals.

Feb. 11, 2026 at 3:55pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Healthcare leaders in Northern Kentucky say nurse and physician shortages persist, worsened by burnout, retirements and workplace violence. Medicaid reforms and the end of ACA subsidies could increase uninsured rates, strain emergency rooms and threaten rural hospitals. The industry is still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and facing challenges related to rising costs and workforce shortages.

Why it matters

The healthcare industry in Northern Kentucky is a critical part of the local economy and community. Ongoing staffing shortages and financial pressures could lead to reduced access to care, higher costs for patients, and the potential closure of rural hospitals that many residents rely on.

The details

Healthcare leaders in Northern Kentucky warn that nurse and physician shortages persist, with 81.6% of nurses reporting workplace violence in 2022. Medicaid reforms, the end of ACA subsidies, and rising uninsured rates could strain emergency rooms and threaten rural hospitals that depend heavily on Medicaid patients. The industry is still recovering from the pandemic and facing challenges like rising costs.

  • In November 2022, a Health Workforce Analysis estimated a shortage of 63,720 healthcare professionals by 2030.
  • In 2023, a nationwide survey found that 81.6% of nurses reported experiencing at least one type of workplace violence.
  • In summer 2025, the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill led to Medicaid reforms and the end of ACA subsidies.

The players

Lisa Cooper

Senior Analyst at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.

Nicholas Lyktey

Chief of Laboratory Operations at Gravity Diagnostics.

Kim Majick

Chief Development Officer at Carespring Health Care Management.

Lori Ritchey-Baldwin

Chief Financial Officer at St. Elizabeth Healthcare.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Healthcare is a difficult field to be in. Healthcare used to be seen as heroes. That since COVID, has changed a little bit, and people question whether they want to go into a field where they're going to be constantly questioned and they're going to be looked at as sometimes the villain.”

— Lisa Cooper, Senior Analyst, Cincinnati Children's Hospital

“Because of the significant increase in incidents against our workers and our associates, we are getting ready to implement a weapons detection system, and a lot of that is so that our healthcare workers so people want to come to work and want to feel safe while working.”

— Lori Ritchey-Baldwin, Chief Financial Officer, St. Elizabeth Healthcare

“Medicaid patients, if they don't have coverage any longer, aren't going to stop getting healthcare, they're going to come to our emergency rooms, which means wait times and crowded of emergency is going to exist, and that will impact everyone, but instead of getting paid by Medicaid like we did in the past, we will get paid nothing for those patients.”

— Lori Ritchey-Baldwin, Chief Financial Officer, St. Elizabeth Healthcare

What’s next

St. Elizabeth Healthcare is currently installing a weapons-detection system to improve worker safety in response to the rise in workplace violence against nurses.

The takeaway

The healthcare industry in Northern Kentucky is facing significant challenges, including staffing shortages, rising costs, and policy changes that could strain hospitals and reduce access to care. Addressing these issues will require collaboration between healthcare providers, policymakers, and the community to ensure the region's healthcare system remains strong and resilient.