Missouri Mom Decries Medicaid Cuts in New Federal Law

Crystal Lyon, a St. Charles County resident, is featured on a recent episode of St. Louis Public Radio’s Politically Speaking Hour discussing her experience with Medicaid and voicing concerns about the GOP budget bill signed into law by the president on July 4, 2025. 

Lyon discusses her reliance on Medicaid, which she credits with saving her daughter’s life after a diagnosis of a rare eye cancer shortly after birth. Medicaid’s coverage allowed Lyon’s daughter to see top eye doctors in the St. Louis area. 

Lyon expresses concern about two controversial parts of the new law: a work requirement for some recipients and the sharp limits on a medical provider tax that funds Missouri’s Medicaid program. She worries that these changes could greatly affect the millions of Missourians on Medicaid. 

“Instead of cutting Medicaid, we need to put more money into it,” she said. 

Lyon also expresses disappointment with Missouri Senator Josh Hawley’s vote in favor of the bill, despite his previous statements calling efforts to cut Medicaid “morally wrong and politically suicidal.” Hawley’s vote followed his addition of an amendment to the bill that provides health care and financial assistance to individuals affected by radioactive waste exposure through the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA). While acknowledging her support for RECA, Lyon argues that the potential harm to Medicaid is not worth it.

“I am all for getting RECA victims funding. I think that is wonderful, they deserve it. But I think that standing in front of people and justifying it that way is very sad,” she said. “It’s those RECA victims that are probably on Medicare and Medicaid who need hospitals and they need health care. And I just think that it’s sad that our senator can do that to us.”

Listen to the full episode.