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In-Home Service Cuts Take Effect Today

Kansas City, Mo. – As of today, more than 2,500 elderly and disabled Missourians will no longer receive state assistance for in-home services. That includes help with things like cooking and bathing.

Kit Wager is a spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. He says the cuts affect low-income people who make too much to directly qualify for Medicaid.

"Basically it was a program to help keep people independent so they wouldn't end up going to a nursing home, or frankly a more high cost setting," says Wagar. "Unfortunately, the state just is running out of money."

Wagar says this year's lower than expected state revenues brought about the cuts. He also says effective today, the department's reduced this year's overall budget for Area Agencies on Aging by about a million dollars.

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