Mental health experts warn that recent federal Medicaid cuts will severely impact care in rural America, where residents already face limited access and rely heavily on the program. The tax and spending bill signed earlier this month reduces Medicaid funding over the next decade and lowers the federal match for states that expanded coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
In states like Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri, rural health centers may be forced to close or scale back services as funding dries up. Patients could face longer travel times, higher out-of-pocket costs, or lose access altogether.
One analysis from Families USA, a nonpartisan health policy organization, estimates the cuts could put over 380 rural hospitals at risk of shutting down. Health providers and advocates warn that pulling support from the most vulnerable populations could lead to far-reaching social and economic consequences.
