Advocacy in Action
Here We Stand for Medicaid
By Chip Riddlerberger
Director of Government Relations and Advocacy
When Medicaid is threatened, the impact is felt in real lives: the parent searching for help in a crisis, the adult waiting for a more independent future, the child with complex medical needs preparing to leave the hospital, and the dedicated workforce providing person-centered care each day.
For KenCrest and the people we support, Medicaid is woven into these everyday moments. It is more than a program or policy debate. It is the support that helps people live with dignity, make choices about their lives, stay connected to their communities, and move toward the independence every person deserves.
Today, that support is at risk. Proposed changes to Medicaid could include funding cuts or caps, stricter eligibility requirements, work-reporting rules, and added paperwork that make it harder for people to access or keep the services they need. These changes would strain states, providers, families, and the direct care workforce while putting community-based supports in jeopardy.
That is why KenCrest is advocating now. Medicaid is not just a line item in a budget; it is a foundation for care, stability, and belonging. Research has consistently shown that Medicaid-funded home and community-based services can help states avoid more costly institutional care and emergency interventions, making Medicaid a sound long-term investment for both people and communities. Across the states where KenCrest serves, its reach is significant. Looking at the numbers below, there are children, adults with disabilities, older adults, working families, and caregivers who depend on
Medicaid to access care and remain part of their communities. Lutheran Services in America’s Here We Stand campaign reminds us that protecting Medicaid is about protecting people.
At KenCrest, we see that impact in everyday moments: a person making a choice about their own life, a family finding reassurance, a caregiver providing consistent support, or a direct support professional helping someone pursue work, relationships, and greater independence.
To stand for Medicaid is to stand for possibility. It is to stand for communities where care is not a privilege, support is not an afterthought, and every person has the chance to live with dignity, stability, and hope.
Take action:
Contact your state and federal representatives and urge them to protect Medicaid from cuts, caps, or proposals that would limit access to care. Your voice can help defend the services that help people live, grow, and belong.
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