Cuts to Missouri Medicaid threaten seniors’ access to nursing home care | Opinion

For almost 60 years, vulnerable Missourians have depended on Medicaid for their healthcare. In Missouri, it’s an especially valuable lifeline for nursing home residents, as more than 65 percent rely on it to pay for their care.

Unfortunately, Congress is debating cutting billions in funding for the program. If lawmakers go down this path, seniors and individuals with disabilities across the state could see reduced access to the long-term care services that they need. This includes things like walking, dressing and bathing, which are often not covered by Medicare and private insurance.

I had the opportunity recently to travel to Washington, D.C. with fellow long-term care administrators and met Senator Josh Hawley’s team on Capitol Hill and staff from the Kansas delegation. Senator Hawley has been a vocal champion for protecting Medicaid, and I appreciate his steadfast support for our seniors.

Senator Hawley understands what’s at stake. Any cut to Medicaid, including a freeze or reduction of provider tax rates, will leave long term care providers with fewer resources, putting long term care facilities into deeper financial stress. Ultimately, our caregivers, residents and their families are the ones who get hurt.

Medicaid is already underfunded and has been for decades. It’s the reason many nursing homes are barely breaking even, especially those in rural areas. This has led to facilities turning away residents because they have to take beds offline, hiring fewer workers or worst of all, being forced to close. Closures leave seniors displaced without homes and without the around-the-clock care they need – placing undue stress on families who then have to scramble to find new care.

Medicaid isn’t a “giveaway” or “hand-out.” It was created to support our most vulnerable. If lawmakers want to crack down on wasteful spending, I support that. But there are certainly better ways to do it. It doesn’t make sense to make cuts to a program that helps them receive healthcare.

What’s more, cutting federal funding will ultimately pass the buck to the states and local taxpayers. Missouri should not have to raise taxes or make cuts elsewhere in order to make up the gap.

Adequate funding is essential for Missouri’s nursing homes and other health care facilities. It ensures access to care for seniors who just want to live their golden years with dignity. This is important because we’re on the precipice of significant growth of our elderly population, which will lead to a much greater demand for nursing home care. Now is simply not the time for drastic cuts.

Senator Hawley has been doing what’s right: standing up for Missouri’s seniors. I hope he will continue to encourage his colleagues in Congress to remember there are real people who depend on this safety net. Nothing should be more important than taking care of them.

This story was originally published June 28, 2025 at 5:08 AM.