MissouriNet

By: Jason Taylor

A new study shows the percentage of rural elderly Missourians who are dependent on Medicaid services is twice that of urban elderly residents.

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The research titled “Medicaid’s Role for Seniors Living in Small Towns and Rural Areas” from Georgetown University’s Rural Health Policy Project reveals 18 percent of aging citizens in the state’s rural communities are on the federal health program versus nine percent in metropolitan areas.

Joan Alker, research professor at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy, says the figures represents the biggest gap among all states.  “You can see that’s a big gap, and it was actually the largest gap in the country between Medicaid coverage among metro and non-metro seniors” said Alker.

Either option would limit federal responsibility and shift responsibility for financing the growth of the program to the states, which Alker says will have a devastating effect.

Alker thinks the state is going to be faced with some tough decisions if the current Republican plans are enacted.

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