News
Missouri ACA marketplace enrollees drop almost 25% as higher costs take hold
1+ hour, 59+ min ago (1164+ words) by Meg Cunningham, Beacon: Missouri July 15, 2026 Nearly 86,500 fewer Missourians were paying for Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage in February compared to a year earlier, according to newly released federal data. It’s a nearly 25% decline that ranks among the steepest in…...
Missouri one of six states planning to use AI to manage Medicaid work requirements
1+ mon, 4+ day ago (1612+ words) by Meg Cunningham, Beacon: Missouri June 10, 2026 Getting answers to questions about MO HealthNet, the state’s Medicaid program, could soon change as the state prepares to roll out artificial intelligence programs to help handle changes to the program. As part of…...
Central Missouri’s Fitzgibbon Hospital files bankruptcy, highlighting growing strain on rural hospitals
2+ mon, 2+ day ago (1192+ words) by Meg Cunningham, Beacon: Missouri May 12, 2026 After years of economic strain, central Missouri’s Fitzgibbon Hospital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and plans to sell to a private buyer. The nonprofit’s board of trustees announced the proposed sale of the 60-bed…...
Rural lifeline or potential monopoly? MU Health Care plan would allow expansion even if competition shrinks
2+ mon, 1+ week ago (1703+ words) by Meg Cunningham, Beacon: Missouri May 4, 2026 In Hermann, Missouri, only 24 beds are available at the city’s critical access hospital. The hospital has been forced to whittle away at services over the years in order to stay financially viable. Like many…...
Rural Missourians far more likely to be uninsured than urban residents
3+ mon, 2+ week ago (1226+ words) At The Beacon we want our stories shared widely for free by other news organizations. This means we welcome and encourage you to republish our reporting. We pursue journalism in the public interest, so we want to reach as many…...
Why 30 hospitals in Kansas and 12 in Missouri are at risk of closure
6+ mon, 6+ day ago (1435+ words) At The Beacon we want our stories shared widely for free by other news organizations. This means we welcome and encourage you to republish our reporting. We pursue journalism in the public interest, so we want to reach as many…...
More services at central Missouri hospital fall victim to economic pressures
6+ mon, 2+ week ago (665+ words) At The Beacon we want our stories shared widely for free by other news organizations. This means we welcome and encourage you to republish our reporting. We pursue journalism in the public interest, so we want to reach as many…...
Health insurance prices set to soar out of reach for many Kansas Citians
8+ mon, 4+ day ago (1837+ words) At The Beacon we want our stories shared widely for free by other news organizations. This means we welcome and encourage you to republish our reporting. We pursue journalism in the public interest, so we want to reach as many…...
One Big Beautiful Bill will close grocery stores and create new food deserts in Kansas
11+ mon, 1+ week ago (825+ words) by Blaise Mesa, Beacon: Kansas August 6, 2025 The Merc Co+op started in Lawrence in 1974. It originally was a group of neighbors who pooled money together to buy foods like eggs, milk and fresh produce in bulk. The group’s original goal…...
Looming Medicaid work requirements could clash with Missouri’s backlogs in social services
11+ mon, 2+ week ago (1798+ words) by Meg Cunningham, Beacon: Missouri July 25, 2025 Kevin Wehner has been there for Missourians as they have dealt with unanswered questions, long wait times and the confusion as they enrolled for government insurance. He was there as the Affordable Care Act…...