Letter: Food assistance and health care access are on the line for rural communities

As Congress weighs the latest budget reconciliation bill, it’s important to take a step back and consider how these decisions will affect everyday people in Dubois County and across Indiana.

Reducing federal spending and promoting self-reliance are important goals for Congressman Messmer, but some of the proposed changes could unintentionally create more problems than they solve.

One of the most concerning provisions would shift a large portion of the cost of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) from the federal government to the states. This would mean Indiana would have to come up with $356 million in state tax dollars as early as 2028 – equivalent to 133 million meals. With 610,700 Hoosiers getting the food they need through SNAP, including 264,000 children and 82,000 seniors, this change would force states to make tough choices: cut benefits, limit eligibility or raise taxes to cover the gap.

This is especially concerning for rural communities, where food insecurity rates are often higher and access to services is more limited. According to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap report, 85% of counties with the highest food insecurity are rural. While nearly 20% of children across the country are experiencing food insecurity, in some rural counties, child food insecurity rates are estimated to be as high as 50%. SNAP is a vital tool in these communities, helping families put food on the table and supporting local grocers and farmers.

Medicaid is equally essential. According to the National Rural Health Association, nearly half of all rural hospitals in the United States are operating in the red. These facilities are already stretched thin, and further cuts to Medicaid funding could push many past the breaking point. Without adequate support, rural hospitals may be forced to scale back or eliminate essential services, postpone critical equipment upgrades or—in some cases—shut their doors entirely.

For rural communities, where these hospitals are often the only source of emergency care, maternity services or chronic disease management, the consequences would be devastating.

The bill also proposes new red-tape requirements tied to work. These changes risk cutting off support for people who are already working, caring for family or managing serious health conditions. Eighty-six percent of SNAP households with working-age adults who are not receiving disability benefits report earnings during the year. Nearly 2 in 3 non-elderly adult Medicaid enrollees currently do paid work, and most of the rest have a disability, care for family members or are attending school. SNAP already includes work incentives and phases out benefits as income rises. Instead of adding red tape, we should modernize the programs to reduce current policies that allow benefits to taper off so people can increase their wages without losing benefits immediately.

The food banks across the state are already operating at full capacity alongside our network of food pantries, community kitchens and faith-based partners. We need strong federal programs, food banks, community partners, all working together to solve the hunger crisis. Now is the time to come together to preserve and strengthen SNAP and Medicaid.

We urge Congressman Messmer to reject proposals that undermine SNAP and Medicaid and focus on modernizing programs to better support Hoosiers to thrive.

Sincerely,
Emily Weikert Bryant
Executive Director, Feeding Indiana’s Hungry

Feeding Indiana’s Hungry is the state association of Feeding America affiliate food banks serving Indiana. Our 11 member food banks work with local pantries, faith based organizations, and other nonprofits and distributed nearly 140 million pounds of food in 2024.