Health Forward Foundation‘s brief, published in February 2026, highlights how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law on July 4, 2025, will significantly weaken the healthcare safety net in Kansas and Missouri by reducing federal support for Medicaid and SNAP (food assistance). The organization believes these changes will increase the number of uninsured residents, place financial strain on hospitals and clinics, and negatively affect rural healthcare systems.
Key impacts include:
- 10 million Americans are likely to lose health coverage by 2034
- 26,000 Kansans and 160,000 Missourians are expected to lose health coverage
- 45,000 Kansans and 150,000 Missourians face losing food assistance
- First-ever state cost-sharing requirements for SNAP program costs
- Medicaid work requirements beginning January 1, 2027 (Missouri only due to expansion status)
- Elimination of coverage for lawfully present refugees, asylees, and other immigrants
For a rural healthcare organization such as HCC, the issues highlighted in the brief are especially relevant:
- More patients may become uninsured or experience interruptions in coverage.
- Hospitals and clinics could see higher levels of uncompensated care.
- Demand for programs may increase.
- Rural providers may face additional financial pressure while caring for a greater number of patients.
Toniann Richard, HCC Network CEO, says, “I’m concerned about the state’s capacity to implement these regulations. The current infrastructure and technology simply aren’t built for this scale of work. We need to ensure the state has the right tools in place so local organizations providing Medicaid services aren’t carrying the burden.”
Read the full brief here:
Navigating the Impact: Responding to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
