Action Alerts - Missouri Association of Area Agencies on Aging

We advocate at all levels of government on behalf of and alongside adults in Missouri who are aging and adults with disabilities. Learn more about the issues we’re tracking and sign up to receive email updates on these important bills.

View the 2025 ma4 Missouri Legislative Tracking Report

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CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS:

Find your Missouri House representative: https://www.house.mo.gov/Session.aspx

Find your Missouri Senator: https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Default.aspx

U.S. Elected Officials:

Find your US Representative Here

Or call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard 24/7 at 1.202.224.3121

Contact Senator Hawley Here — or call 1.202.224.6154

Contact Senator Schmitt Here — or call 1.202.224.5721

ma4 ACTION ALERTS:

10.27.25: Stop the shutdown from hurting Missouri seniors!

For thousands of elderly Missourians, the federal government shutdown has moved past being an inconvenience and is now an impending crisis. The funding lapse directly threatens the existence of home-delivered meal programs and the crucial safety services provided by our Area Agencies on Aging (AAA).

We are talking about seniors who rely on this daily delivery for their primary source of nutrition. More importantly, that knock on the door is a daily safety check performed by dedicated staff and volunteers. Without that check, vulnerable individuals living alone are at severe risk of injury, falls, or illness going unnoticed for days. This service is a critical preventative measure, not charity.

Our local AAAs are resourceful and resilient, but they cannot operate indefinitely on empty promises and dwindling emergency funds. Federal allocations, primarily through the Older Americans Act, are the backbone of this support system. When Congress fails to pass appropriations, it puts an unsustainable strain on the local agencies that serve our communities every single day.

Delaying the reopening of the government is directly condemning our seniors to increased risk of hunger and isolation. We urge every member of our delegation to take immediate, definitive action to pass the necessary appropriations bill and restore Older Americans Act funding. Protecting the health, independence, and dignity of our older population should be the easiest vote they cast.

Urge Congress to reopen the government and protect our seniors!

If your situation allows, please support your local Area Agency on Aging to protect seniors!

10.14.25: Reopen the Government!

Missouri’s Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) are on the front lines, and we can tell you plainly: the lapse in federal funding, particularly for the Older Americans Act (OAA), is placing serious and dangerous strain on the vital services our communities rely on every single day.

The Shut-Down Jeopardizes Essential Lifelines: The funding crisis directly jeopardizes the programs that keep our most vulnerable neighbors safe and independent in their homes. An extended shutdown could lead to:

Potential Disruption of Senior Nutrition: Programs like home-delivered meals and community dining sites, which are often heavily reliant on federal funding, face a worrying delay in essential support. For thousands of homebound seniors, these meals are their primary source of nutrition and their only daily safety check. Delays in funding mean the very real possibility of seniors facing hunger and isolation.
Strain on Caregiver and Other Support: Services such that provide relief and training to family caregivers, such as respite care, may be forced to scale back, pushing already stressed families past their breaking point. Seniors who depend on AAA-supported transportation to get to medical appointments, pick up prescriptions, and access groceries could face significant obstacles.
Delayed Access to Funding: Historically after a shutdown, it has taken up to six weeks to resume funding to AAAs; this creates a risk of being forced to reduce, delay, or pause services.

The safety net for older Americans is already stretched to the limit. Congress must work swiftly to find a resolution. Action should be taken without delay to restore full government funding and protect our seniors.

Urge Congress to reopen the federal government now!

PREVIOUS ma4 ACTION ALERTS

4/17/25: Cuts to Medicaid and SNAP Pose Grave Risks to Older Missourians

The Federal Budget Reconciliation process is rapidly advancing. NOW is the time to let Congress know how cuts to Medicaid and SNAP would impact the lives of real Missourians including older adults. In Missouri, Medicaid is the largest payor of home and community based services and is the primary source of coverage for nursing home care for around 65% of residents in Missouri. (AARP Fact Sheet in Medicaid’s Role for Older Missourians) (Missouri Foundation for Health – Missouri Medicaid Basics 2025). Cuts to Medicaid would shift healthcare costs to the state; the impact to Missouri’s budget would be profound and would and the Missouri budget is already The Missouri Budget Project shared important data on the impact of Medicaid cuts in Missouri – including that 9% of Missouri seniors are covered by Medicaid. And cuts to SNAP could harm to older adults already experiencing food insecurity. Please reach out to your US Senators and Representative to let them know how detrimental these cuts could be to older adults (Links to contact your U.S. Elected Officials Above).

Medicaid Home Delivered Meal Rate Increase Urgently Needed

4/16/25. Update: The Missouri House passed HB10 with a 12% increased rate! And the Senate Appropriations increased that amount slightly higher. Thank you!!

On to the Full Senate! Reach out to your Senator!

Home-delivered Medicaid meals provide essential nutrition and support to Missouri’s most vulnerable homebound older adults and adults with disabilities. This meal program is a crucial investment in their well-being, preventing costly and often unwanted placement in nursing homes. However, years of underfunding have created a severe crisis. The current Medicaid reimbursement rate ($6.21) fails to cover the actual costs ($9.97/meal). This financial strain is compounded by rising food prices, mandatory wage increases, and the increasing need for meals from Missouri’s growing senior population. The current rate of $6.21/meal was established in FY22 based on an independent rate study; the newly released Mercer Rate Study developed a new rate model between $10.09 to $10.99/meal. Please reach out today to your Senator to support an increased rate for Medicaid meal reimbursement in HB10.

LEARN MORE

Sample Messaging: Dear ____, Missouri seniors urgently need an increase in the Medicaid home-delivered meal reimbursement rate to ensure the program’s viability. Please support the proposed increase to the Medicaid home-delivered meal rate in HB10. The current rate is unsustainable and threatens the health and well-being of Missouri’s growing senior population. Thank you! Sincerely,___

Mercer Rate Study

PROTECT FEDERAL OLDER AMERICANS ACT PROGRAMS

3/14/25 Update: We did it thanks to you! Once again, thanks to quick action from you and others across the country, Congress passed the Continuing Resolution (CR) in time to avoid a funding crisis. Thank you once again for making your voices count!

3/10/25: Call Congress TODAY to Protect Critical Older Americans Act Programs By March 14, Congress must either pass a final FY 2025 spending package or another continuing resolution (CR) to avoid a government shutdown. Time is running out!

Action Alert: We Did It!!

3/12/25: FY 2025 Supplemental Budget supporting spending authority for AAAs

Because of you, today the Missouri Legislature has passed the FY 2025 Supplemental Budget — in record time. Your passionate advocacy made all the difference. You understood the urgency, you spoke up for our seniors, and our legislators listened. This historic speed—the fastest Supplemental passage ever—shows just how powerful your voices are. Because of you, aging Missourians will continue to receive the essential services they need from Area Agencies on Aging. While we know there are more battles to face, today, let’s celebrate this incredible win. Thank you to our tireless advocates! And thank you to the Missouri Legislature and Governor Kehoe for championing the needs of older Missourians! Your quick action on passing the FY 2025 Supplemental Budget protects vital services that older adults rely on from the Area Agencies on Aging. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for standing up for our seniors and making sure their needs are heard. Your Voice Matters! Your Voice was Heard!

URGENT ACTION NEEDED TO PROTECT OLDER MISSOURIANS

2/19/25: A crisis threatens essential services for 150,000 vulnerable older adults in Missouri who rely on Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs). Federally funded, AAAs provide critical support, including home-delivered meals, transportation, caregiver assistance, and in-home care, enabling seniors to age in place – a preference shared by the vast majority of Missourians.