Cutting Medicaid Rx for disaster in Central Mass.

by Ken Bates, President & CEO of Open Sky Community Services

Read the original article in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette

PDF Version

In Worcester County, thousands of our neighbors rely on Medicaid for health care, mental health support, and services that allow people with disabilities to live independently in their communities. Medicaid isn’t just a line item in a federal budget — it is a lifeline for low-income families, seniors and individuals with disabilities. Yet, proposed federal Medicaid cuts threaten to dismantle critical services, leaving the most vulnerable members of our community without the care they need.

At Open Sky Community Services, we see firsthand how Medicaid — called MassHealth in Massachusetts — helps people thrive. It provides mental health services to individuals struggling with trauma and serious mental illness, funds home- and community-based services for those with developmental disabilities, and ensures that low-income parents and children have access to preventive health care. Without Medicaid, many of these individuals would have nowhere to turn.

The proposed changes — including deep funding cuts, bureaucratic work reporting requirements and reductions in federal contributions to state Medicaid programs — would be devastating for Worcester County. Here’s what they would mean for our community:

• People with disabilities losing critical support

Massachusetts has worked for decades to expand community-based services so that individuals with disabilities can live in their own homes rather than institutions. The Department of Developmental Services and the Department of Mental Health rely on Medicaid to fund group homes, personal care attendants, and supported employment programs. Under the proposed cuts, these services would face severe funding reductions, leading to longer wait-lists and fewer resources for those who need them most.