Proposed federal Medicaid cuts could significantly impact hundreds of Oklahomans with intellectual and developmental disabilities, according to officials at A New Leaf, a nonprofit based in Owasso.
The organization provides housing, job training and support services to adults with disabilities.
“Right now we have about 450 clients who depend on Medicaid for their services, and we estimate that if cuts do happen to this population, about 99% of those 450 will be impacted,” said A New Leaf Manager of Philanthropic Services Shelley Nachtigall.
The nonprofit currently serves roughly 600 clients overall. The concern for Nachtigall is that some residents could be forgotten.
“A lot of the clients would be left either with reduced services or actually having to drop their services depending, on what we’re able to do,” Nachtigall said.
The organization is working to diversify funding and is in communication with lawmakers, but officials say the uncertainty surrounding Medicaid's future is troubling.
In addition to the funding reductions, proposed changes to Medicaid administrative procedures could disproportionately harm those who struggle to navigate complex bureaucratic systems, resulting in lost coverage and access to services.
“If federal Medicaid is cut, the unintended consequences for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities will be great,” said Maranda Figueroa, chief operating officer at A New Leaf. “There is a lot of talk about Medicaid abuses, but no one is really talking about those who rely on this safety net to have any life at all.”
In a press release, A New Leaf’s COO emphasized that its mission helping clients live independently and achieve their goals is built on the foundation of reliable Medicaid support.
“Our communities work best when everyone can develop skills, achieve greater independence and successfully reach their goals,” Figueroa said. “That is what we do, every day for our clients.”
The proposed cuts are part of a federal budget plan and are expected to take effect in late 2026.
