Protect Medicaid

2025 promises to be a year of change and one of those anticipated changes involves Medicaid. we have been hearing from our national chapter, The Arc of the United States, to prepare for cuts to the Medicaid program.

Medicaid is the primary insurer for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Those with significant disabilities have the least access to employer-based or private health coverage.

You may not be familiar with Medicaid or why it is important, so here are a few key facts.

Medicaid funds the NC Innovations Waiver Program: Right now, there are approximately 14,000 people with I/DD who use the NC Innovations Waiver. North Carolina’s waitlist for an Innovations Waiver is over 18,000 individuals. Many individuals and families wait 10+ years for an Innovations Waiver slot.

Block Grants shift risk to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities: Block grants for Medicaid are being discussed by Congress as an option. A block grant is a set amount given to each state, no matter the size or number of people being served. This would lead to funding shortfalls, reduced eligibility, reduction or elimination of services and supports, cutting already low provider reimbursements, and communities struggling with the impact of unmet needs. This will hurt working families who need modest supports to take care of their own.

Medicaid is generally the only source of funds to support people with disabilities to live and work in the community: the effects of unmet needs in North Carolina is evident: an inundated crisis service system, individuals with I/DD held in emergency rooms for days awaiting crisis supports, lost work and wages of parents who cannot manage alone.

Medicaid cuts hurt individuals and families who work and live independently in the community: Rural areas benefit most from a population with consistent coverage: relieving small hospitals of disproportionate uncompensated care; incentivizing medical providers to practice in small communities. Working families can remain in the work force when children are medically stable.

Any cuts to Medicaid would be detrimental to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. We are going to need your support to help keep Medicaid from being cut. Please sign up for our action alerts or stay tuned to our social media channels for more information on how you can help!