Potential Medicaid, SNAP cuts could derail American education system
Illinois' "trigger law" could also lead to over 700,000 adults losing Medicaid coverage if federal reimbursement rates drop below 90%.
by Judith Ruiz-Branch Illinois News Connection
CHICAGO - As Congress considers federal cuts to Medicaid and SNAP food assistance, groups advocating for Illinois schools are speaking out on how it would affect students across the state and the education system at large.
They said budget cuts would have both direct and indirect effects, from student eligibility to school reimbursements for things like meals and health screenings, and straining the state budget as well.
Jessica Handy, executive director of Stand for Children Illinois, highlighted the importance of students having access to health care and food, linking it to issues like chronic absenteeism, which has recently spiked in Illinois.
"These things really are all interconnected," Handy explained. "It's not that kids can show up to school hungry, show up to school with some severe chronic health issues and not have treatment and then be able to sit there and learn as if those things didn't happen."
She stressed implementing stricter qualifying requirements for Medicaid would reduce the number of students with health coverage and school funding from Medicaid reimbursements.
Handy pointed out changes in school-based Medicaid reimbursements like expanding coverage to include therapy services and vision screenings are now a significant funding source for schools. Illinois' "trigger law" could also lead to over 700,000 adults losing Medicaid coverage if federal reimbursement rates drop below 90%, potentially affecting school staff.
"If the Legislature comes back into session and wants to change that trigger law, then we have another really expensive budget pressure that leaves fewer flexible dollars to fund our schools," Handy observed.
Handy noted potentially shifting SNAP benefit costs to states could also jeopardize school funding. Although Illinois' 2025 legislative session has adjourned, she emphasized lawmakers would have to come back this year if federal budget cuts are implemented to rework the state budget, with the uncertainty further compounding matters.
"Schools can't budget and plan effectively for programs throughout the school year when they're not sure what the impact's going to be," Handy added. "It leaves everybody in a kind of gray area that's not good for stability and not good for really being able to focus on programs, instead of on logistics and keeping the doors open."
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by Judith Ruiz-Branch
