Protect Medicaid in Missouri

We want to hear your Medicaid stories!

We have to protect against Medicaid policy changes that could result in devastating loss of coverage for Missourians. These cuts would impact millions—including children, older adults, people with disabilities, and working families across our state.

Our team at the Community Health Commission of Missouri (CHCM), is collecting stories from Missourians who have been impacted by Medicaid. We want to hear about your experiences and Medicaid's role in helping you get critical care, support a loved one, or bridging a gap during hard times.

Share your MO Medicaid story

Access to Care

Redefining How We Understand Health Access

For years, the Regional Health Commission (now CHCM) produced the Access to Care Data Book—a trusted, annual resource that tracked our region’s progress in strengthening the healthcare safety net. This report offered valuable insights into the capacity of our safety net system, the experiences of uninsured and underinsured patients, and the policies shaping access to care. 

But access to care isn’t just about numbers—it’s about people. 

a new approach

Centering Lived Experience

In partnership with the University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL) Community Innovation and Action Center (CIAC), we are reimagining how we understand and communicate about access. Instead of relying solely on charts and statistics, we’re embracing storytelling and experiential data—centering the voices of those most directly impacted by Missouri’s health and social systems 

We believe that community members are the experts of their own experience. By uplifting their stories, we are better equipped to: 

  • Advocate for policy changes that reflect real needs 
  • Address social determinants of health 
  • Improve outcomes and expand access statewide 

What’s Next

While we’ve paused the traditional data book format, we are actively building a new model—one that highlights systemic barriers, amplifies real voices, and helps redefine what it means to achieve true health equity. 

Stay tuned for updates as we shape this next phase of our work.