Medicaid Op-Ed

Our latest op-ed from CEO, Lisa Poteat, outlines the dangers of Medicaid and SNAP cuts for people with disabilities. The reconciliation bill containing these cuts is currently up for debate in the US Senate. It could be signed into law by July 4^th.

People with disabilities rely on Medicaid and SNAP every day and many are in danger of losing access to these programs. We hope these programs stay intact, allowing access for those who need these vital services.

Lisa Poteat: Cuts to Medicaid and SNAP would devastate people with IDD

Greensboro News & Record | Jun 25, 2025

Congress is considering budget cuts that come at the expense of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families.
Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are lifelines for people with IDD. These programs enable these individuals to have better health outcomes, attend school, go to work, go to church, spend time with friends and volunteer in their communities.

The budget reconciliation bill being considered by Congress would reduce the Medicaid provider tax cap from 6% down to 3.5%, lower the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) in North Carolina and move costs for SNAP from the federal government to states and counties. Here’s how these changes would affect individuals with IDD and their families.

Reducing the provider tax cap: This would be devastating for rural hospitals and may cause more of them to close, leaving local residents without care and cutting jobs. Individuals with IDD in rural communities rely on hospitals for emergency care. Based on FY 2028 projections, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services estimates every one percentage point reduction in the 6% cap on provider taxes would correspond to an approximately $1.15 billion reduction in federal Medicaid funding. This would affect the entire Medicaid budget in our state and North Carolina would be forced to reduce or end certain services, many of which benefit individuals with IDD.

Lowering the FMAP: Right now, the FMAP covers 90% of costs for Medicaid expansion, while the state covers 10%. North Carolina has a trigger law requiring the state to cover the Medicaid costs for the expansion population, should the federal portion drop below 90%. If North Carolina chose not to fund Medicaid expansion, more than 600,000 people would lose health insurance. Individuals with IDD, their families and some direct support staff would be among them. As more people go without needed health insurance, the existing health costs rise for everyone else. This would affect coverage and hurt the state’s economy.

Moving SNAP costs from the federal government to states and counties: Cost-sharing with states and moving administrative costs to counties would cause families that rely on SNAP for healthy foods to lose their benefits. Counties and states cannot afford the program costs. Without nutritious foods, individuals with IDD and their families would have to choose whether to pay bills or buy food. Cuts to SNAP not only hurt people with disabilities, but farmers, small-business owners and retailers as well.

We ask Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd to consider how these cuts would lead to poorer outcomes for people with disabilities and force them to make tough choices.