When you are dealing with a major physical or mental health crisis, you can have trouble paying your utility bills. The loss of your utilities can exacerbate your health condition and spiral into other unforeseen consequences that jeopardize everyone in the household’s stability.
United Way of Greater Kansas City launched the Critical Medical Needs program in the summer of 2024. It is designed to stop disconnection or restore services for households with people who have critical medical needs. This new program, made possible in the Kansas City area by the support of Evergy and Spire, works with health system partners and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to identify eligible patients, speed up securing assistance, and provide additional supports for households that are struggling with major medical needs.
Currently, this program is only available to Missouri residents in eight counties around Kansas City, but we are working to expand coverage across the state with United Way of St. Louis and United Way of Southwestern Missouri and Southeastern Kansas. The program can help with Evergy, Spire, and Ameren bills while we work to add other utility partners.
Our initial launch included Children’s Mercy Hospital, University Health, and Mosaic Health but we are adding new healthcare partners and looking to expand the network of referral points in the next year.
Why only Missouri: This program is a result of work by the Missouri Public Service Commission staff, utility companies operating in Missouri, and United Ways across the state to secure funding, develop process, and assist Missouri residents with critical medical needs.
What are the eight counties: Andrew, Buchanan, Cass, Clay, Clinton, Dekalb, Jackson, Platte