INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) Indianapolis residents held a town hall to discuss the impacts of cuts to Medicaid. Nursing homes across Indiana are facing unpaid bills, staff layoffs, and the risk of closures after recent Medicaid changes that have delayed payments and cut personal assistance for residents.Town Hall organized after help cutCommunity activist Byron Alston organized the meeting after cutbacks started taking personal help away from residents like him. Alston has lived in Indianapolis for more than 60 years and has been in assisted living since he lost his eyesight eight years ago.The cuts are tremendous and people dont know until theyre down here with us how much it affects us, Alston said.Alston expected government officials to attend the meeting, but they were absent.Were gonna do it again," he said. "Im not upset. At least we got the movement going."Rides to doctors, shower assistance cutAlston and other residents said the cutbacks have reduced personal assistance.Rides from the facility to doctors have been reduced, as well as shower help that used to be available for residents who cannot move.The lady said she waited for the driver and didnt get to go to the doctor because the driver didnt show, Alston said. She was going to a doctors appointment and thats a regular here. Drivers are cut off theyre not coming by or coming to pick up the residents, and thats because Medicaid has made so many cuts. We lost our shower assistance. They help you clean the room, give you showers appropriately, just helping out.Residents said missed rides mean missed medical appointments, while reduced shower help impacts daily hygiene and room cleaning for those with mobility limitations.Hundreds of millions delayedOrganizers said facilities statewide are waiting on hundreds of millions of dollars in delayed Medicaid payments.The payment delays are forcing cutbacks, heavier workloads for remaining staff, and concerns about declining care and potential facility closures, attendees said. ...read more read less