Jacksonville Elder Law Attorney Kellen Bryant Sounds Alarm as Federal Medicaid Cuts Threaten 43,000 Florida Nursing Home Residents

Berg Bryant Elder Law Group, PLLC, a leading elder law firm in Duval County, is sounding the alarm about sweeping federal Medicaid cuts that could devastate Florida’s most vulnerable elderly and disabled residents. The firm warns that the recently enacted federal legislation, which slashes nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid over 10 years, threatens to upend care for thousands of Florida seniors currently residing in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Managing Attorney Kellen Bryant, one of only four Board Certified Elder Law Attorneys in Duval County and CEO of Berg Bryant Elder Law Group, expressed grave concern about the impact on Florida families.

“We’re witnessing a perfect storm that could force elderly Floridians out of their care facilities,” said Bryant. “With Florida already spending the least per capita on Medicaid among all states, these federal cuts will hit our seniors particularly hard. Families who thought their loved ones were secure in nursing homes may face impossible choices.”

Florida Nursing Home Residents Face Immediate Threat from $4 Billion Medicaid Reduction

According to recent analyses, Florida could lose up to 20% of the $19.5 billion it receives annually in federal Medicaid support. This funding currently supports:

• 43,000 nursing home residents
• 65,300 older residents receiving home- and community-based services
• Nearly 400,000 adults with disabilities
• Critical medical services for Florida’s most vulnerable populations

The cuts, which begin taking effect in 2027-2028, come at a time when Florida’s aging population is rapidly growing. The state already faces challenges with eight rural hospitals closing over the past 20 years, and these cuts threaten to accelerate facility closures.

Four Medicaid Changes Every Florida Family Must Understand Now

Bryant’s team at Berg Bryant Elder Law Group has identified several critical concerns for families:

#1 – 43,000 Nursing Home Residents Risk Losing Medicaid Coverage

Many of Florida’s 43,000 Medicaid-funded nursing home residents could lose coverage, forcing families to either pay privately (at costs often exceeding $10,000 per month) or find alternative care arrangements.

#2 – 65,300 Seniors May Lose Life-Sustaining Home Care Services

The 65,300 elderly Floridians who rely on Medicaid for home- and community-based services may lose access to essential support, potentially forcing them into more expensive institutional care or leaving them without adequate assistance.

#3 – New Bureaucratic Hurdles Create Barriers for Disabled and Elderly Floridians

New semi-annual work requirement checks and stricter eligibility verification processes will create additional bureaucratic hurdles for elderly and disabled Floridians, many of whom struggle with complex paperwork due to cognitive or physical limitations.

#4 – Rural Florida Faces Medical Care Desert as Hospitals Close

With rural hospitals already under extreme financial stress, the Medicaid cuts could force more closures, leaving elderly residents in these areas without nearby medical facilities.

Medicaid Cuts Could Trigger Humanitarian Crisis for Florida’s Elderly Population

Recent studies suggest the Medicaid cuts could lead to more than 1,000 additional deaths annually nationwide, with nearly 100,000 additional hospitalizations as people delay necessary care. In Florida, where the elderly population is particularly large, the human cost could be devastating.

“We’ve already seen families struggling to make sense of Florida’s Medicaid system,” Bryant noted. “These cuts will make an already difficult situation nearly impossible for many. The elderly gentleman with dementia, the disabled adult child living with aging parents, the widow in assisted living – these are the people who will suffer most.”

Mary Mayhew, president and CEO of the Florida Hospital Association, warned that the cuts have been “grossly mischaracterized” as targeting only fraud and abuse, when in fact they represent massive reductions to essential services. Rural hospitals, delivery rooms, psychiatric units, and other critical services heavily dependent on Medicaid funding face an uncertain future.

Five Steps to Protect Your Elderly Loved Ones Before Medicaid Cuts Hit

“Time is of the essence,” Bryant emphasized. “Families need to understand their options now, before these cuts take effect. Proper planning today can mean the difference between maintaining quality care and facing a crisis tomorrow.”

Berg Bryant Elder Law Group recommends that families:

1. Review Current Coverage: Understand exactly what Medicaid services your loved one currently receives
2. Explore Asset Protection Strategies: Legal planning tools may help protect assets while maintaining eligibility
3. Update Legal Documents: Ensure powers of attorney, health care directives, and other documents are current
4. Consider Alternative Funding Sources: Investigate veterans’ benefits, long-term care insurance, and other programs
5. Document Everything: Maintain detailed records of all medical needs and care requirements

For more information or to speak with an attorney about Medicaid planning options for you or your loved ones, visit Berg Bryant Elder Law Group, PLLC online at https://www.bbelderlaw.com/.

About Berg Bryant Elder Law Group, PLLC

Berg Bryant Elder Law Group has built a reputation as a trusted advocate for elderly and disabled clients facing legal and financial challenges. The firm provides comprehensive elder law services, including Medicaid planning, asset protection, guardianship, and special needs planning.

Led by Board Certified Elder Law Attorney Kellen Bryant, the firm is known for treating clients like family during life’s most challenging transitions. The team combines deep legal experience with genuine compassion, helping families better manage the intersection of health care, long-term care, and financial planning.

For families concerned about how the Medicaid cuts might affect their elderly or disabled loved ones, Berg Bryant Elder Law Group offers consultations to discuss planning options.

Contact Information

Berg Bryan Elder Law Group, PLLC

7545 Centurion Parkway, Suite 108

Jacksonville, FL 32256

(904) 682-9210

About Berg Bryant Elder Law Group, PLLC

About Berg Bryant Elder Law Group, PLLC

Berg Bryant Elder Law Group, PLLC, is a Florida-based elder law firm serving families and caregivers throughout Northeast Florida. Founded in 2016 by Florida Bar Board Certified Elder Law Attorney R. Kellen Bryant, the firm provides trusted legal counsel in asset protection, Medicaid planning, long-term care planning, estate planning, trust administration, Special Needs Trusts, probate, and guardianship. With offices in Jacksonville, the firm is committed to improving the lives of the aging and disabled community in Duval, Nassau, St. Johns, and Clay counties.