Voices for Independence voice concerns about impacts of federal budget cuts on disability services
Voices for Independence, a nonprofit that serves people with disabilities in 27 western Pennsylvania counties, is voicing opposition to the July 4 passage of the federal reconciliation bill, dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill.”
The bill includes nearly $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid, alarming advocates for individuals with disabilities and families who rely on Medicaid to live independently.
The cuts will result in a massive decrease in federal Medicaid dollars that would be coming to Pennsylvania, and an estimated 310,000 Pennsylvanians, including about 18,645 in Pennsylvania’s 14th Congressional District, will lose Medicaid coverage. An additional 144,000 Pennsylvanians who receive SNAP could lose their access to food assistance.
“Throughout our coverage area, we’ve heard directly from individuals and families who are scared – scared of losing their personal care attendants, scared of losing access to medications, and scared of food insecurity,” said Shona Eakin, CEO of VFI. “These aren’t just theoretical concerns. We are talking about people’s lives, and these services are what allow them to thrive in their communities, go to work, and live with dignity.”
Among the services that could be cut is Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), a Medicaid-funded service that enables individuals to receive care in their homes instead of nursing facilities.
HCBS is considered optional, and disability advocates worry that it will be impacted as Pennsylvania determines how to handle the funding cuts.
Mary Harris, director of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging, expressed concern on the impact cuts to the SNAP program will have on the older adults her organization serves.
“There are a lot of older adults who receive those benefits, and if the state isn’t able to – or decides not to – fill in the gaps there, we think that could increase food insecurity for older adults,” said Harris.
Additionally, she worries about the end of LIHEAP, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program that helps hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians keep their heat on during the coldest months of the year.
“We have older adults who struggle in the winter to pay utilities and heating, and we typically connect them with LIHEAP, but if that first line of defense is no longer there, we feel like we’re probably going to get more requests for help, and we don’t have the funding to help,” said Harris. “It’s just hard to really be sure how it’s all going to play out.”
In rural communities, where access to healthcare is already limited, the Medicaid cuts could result in hospital closures and longer wait times for Medicaid recipients and residents.
Nicole Stallings, CEO and President of the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP), said the cuts “don’t just impact Medicaid beneficiaries, but really all individuals in our community.”
“We are going to see individuals who are sicker, communities who are less healthy, and it’s also going to have an impact on economies and jobs,” said Stallings.
Eakins said VFI is a nonpartisan organization and its stance is not political.
“It’s about people. We believe that every person, regardless of party affiliation, can agree that people with disabilities deserve access to the care they need. These cuts hit hardest among those who already face significant barriers, including people with disabilities, older adults, and low-income families.
The cuts will not take effect until 2026, but FVI said the uncertainty is impacting families and individuals trying to plan for their futures. Many are unsure if they’ll be able to remain in their homes, maintain employment, or access life-saving medications, Eakins said.