Knox County Community Gathers in Support of Veterans Amid VA Contract Loss
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EDINA, Mo. — April 23, 2025 — The Knox County Nursing Home (KCNH) Board of Directors, staff and community members gathered Wednesday evening in the facility’s dining room to discuss the recent and controversial cancellation of its U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) contract, which has already forced the relocation of one local veteran.
The meeting, led by KCNH Administrator Katlind Murray, gave residents an opportunity to hear details directly from the facility and to express frustration, sadness and determination in response to the federal decision.
The VA contract, first secured in 2017, allowed the nursing home to care for veterans who are 70% or more service-connected at no personal cost to the veteran or their family. The contract was abruptly canceled two years early with no written explanation from the VA.
“We’ve followed every guideline. We’ve done everything right,” Murray said. “Yet we were told our contract wouldn’t be renewed—not because of the quality of care, but because we’re too far away and serve too few veterans.”
The decision has already separated 78-year-old Vietnam veteran Larry Stone from his wife, Annie, who now faces long weekly drives to visit him in Macon. The Stones had waited months for Larry’s return to KCNH, only to learn the contract was canceled less than two weeks after his admission.
“This affects the rest of their lives,” Murray said. “Annie now has to decide whether to pay out of pocket or be far from her husband. That’s a decision no veteran’s family should be forced to make.”
Officials from the VA’s Columbia office visited the facility last week following public outcry and regional media coverage. According to Murray, VA representatives explained during the visit that the Columbia office is allowed to contract only 14 nursing homes across 44 counties in its service area.
Since the April 18 meeting, Murray said she has made multiple attempts to follow up but has yet to receive a response.
“I’ve called, I’ve texted and I’ve left messages,” Murray said. “It’s been days with no word back. I’ve always had an open line of communication with the VA—until now.”
She added that the silence has been discouraging, especially given the urgency of the situation.
“I was hopeful we’d come out of that meeting with a path forward,” she said. “Instead, I feel like the door’s been quietly closed behind us.”
KCNH, which averages one to two contracted veterans at any given time, was not prioritized due to the VA’s stated goal of serving the largest number of veterans possible with limited resources.
“I understand wanting to reach more veterans,” Murray said. “But every veteran matters. Our veterans deserve the choice to live near their loved ones.”
Attendees at Wednesday’s meeting included Annie Stone and a representative from the office of State Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin.
Efforts continue to contact officials at the state and federal levels. Residents were urged to keep speaking out.
Community members can continue to support the cause by contacting elected representatives, including U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt and U.S. Rep. Sam Graves. All three lawmakers have been made aware of the situation and are seeking further information from the VA.
As of now, no changes have been made to the VA’s decision, but KCNH staff and local advocates remain hopeful.
“Our fight isn’t over,” Murray said. “We may be a small home in a rural county, but we give great care. We just want to do right by our veterans.”
A video of the meeting is available on our YouTube channel @TheEdinaSentinel.
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