This April marks the 8th annual Medicaid Awareness Month. This year, the commemoration is more crucial than ever. Medicaid gives people access to essential health care and support when they need it most, but enormous Republican-proposed cuts would jeopardize the health of over 70 million people, including children, pregnant people, older adults, people with disabilities and people with low incomes. Throughout April, the National Partnership for Women & Families will be highlighting the importance of Medicaid in the lives of our staff and their loved ones, proudly proclaiming Medicaid Matters. Below, we highlight the story of our colleague Kate’s sister-in-law Mandy.
In many ways my sister-in-law, Mandy, is like a lot of other women I know. She’s a fan of the ocean, horses and a large plate of French fries. She has strong feelings about how her hair and home décor look—and she loves a good movie marathon. And like so many women, Mandy values her independence, freedom and autonomy.
But Mandy faces particular challenges to being as independent as possible – challenges Medicaid is essential in mitigating. That’s because Mandy, who was diagnosed with autism as a young child nearly four decades ago, communicates, behaves and interacts differently than most people – and these differences make it hard for her to navigate an ableist, biased world that is not structured to meet her needs.
That’s where Medicaid comes in. Since she was a teenager, Mandy has lived at Mandy’s Farm, a beautiful home my husband’s family created 25 years ago for her and other people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to support their independence and autonomy. Over the years, Mandy’s Farm has grown to offer multiple residential locations, an integrated employment program, an AgrAbility program and more. Today, it’s a truly remarkable community that helps disabled adults thrive.
But proposed cuts to Medicaid put Mandy’s Farm – and other places like it – at risk. That’s because the people who live at Mandy’s Farm are supported by Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services, at-home help with tasks like cleaning, bathing and transportation that promotes the full participation of disabled people in their communities. Astonishingly, this support – which also allows older Americans to age at home instead of in institutions – is an “optional” Medicaid benefit, meaning it is particularly at risk when cuts to Medicaid are threatened. Slashing home-based support would dramatically reduce independence and autonomy for disabled or/and older adults, paving the way for institutionalization for people like Mandy. And the residents of Mandy’s Farm wouldn’t be the only ones harmed by these cuts. Mandy’s Farm is a job creator, employing diverse, talented workers in dozens of roles from direct caregivers to human resources professionals. It also grows our local workforce through its inclusive employer program, which matches local businesses with qualified applicants and works to successfully train and onboard these new workers into integrated employment.
And I can personally attest that Mandy’s Farm increases families’ peace of mind and financial security. The lack of caregiving support in the U.S. for families like ours puts caregivers under enormous emotional and financial stress, often driving them out of the paid labor force. In fact, this is exactly what happened to my mother-in-law, who had to leave her career to care for Mandy and create Mandy’s Farm. Knowing that Mandy is not only safe, but that she lives a fulfilling and happy life ensures that my husband and I are not forced to make a similar choice.
Mandy is a beloved part of our family and an essential part of our community. While here in New Mexico we are fortunate to have a state legislature focused on supporting Medicaid, it’s chilling to imagine what could happen to Mandy – and other people like her – if Medicaid were slashed. Cuts to Medicaid – like the ones proposed by Republicans in Congress – are shameful and cruel. They would shutter small organizations like Mandy’s Farm, costing local jobs and requiring families to make impossible choices – and they would drive disabled people and older adults out of their homes and communities and into institutions. Medicaid supports our local economy, our family’s peace of mind and most importantly Mandy’s autonomy, independence and dignity. Medicaid matters for my sister-in-law Mandy.
The author is grateful to Sarah Coombs, Rolonda Donelson, Mettabel Law and Michael Robbins for their thoughtful review and comments.
Read more from the Medicaid Matters series:
