Medicaid
Katherine Twomey: Why Medicaid Matters for Mental Health Clinics
Katherine Twomey, a licensed clinical social worker and lifelong Long Islander, has dedicated her entire career to community mental health. Living in New York’s 1st Congressional District, she works as a psychotherapist at a community mental health clinic where she and her colleagues serve patients with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Nearly all of their patients rely on Medicaid.
Troy Sharp of Omaha, Nebraska spent the last six years caring for his wife through severe health conditions until she passed away from heart failure in 2023, two years after a heart transplant. Together they raised two children, now 14 and 11. Throughout those difficult years Medicaid provided a safety net, shielding the vulnerable family from loads of medical debt. “Medicaid has been an invaluable service to me and my family,” Troy explained.
Jill is a single mother raising two teenagers, supporting them on her own without assistance from their father. Her son James is a senior in high school and will soon turn 18. His medical challenges make this milestone especially difficult. Medicaid, she said, makes it possible for her not to always choose between their health and their childhood.
Charles "Trey" Wright lives in Jesup, Georgia, where he recently completed a master's program in public health. In January of 2025, after some time without health insurance, Trey enrolled in Georgia Pathways to Coverage, a Medicaid program for Georgians ages 19-64 who have a household income of up to 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). 
As the mother of two children, Miranda’s life changed when her young son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Managing his condition requires an insulin pump, a continuous glucose monitor, and round-the-clock monitoring, all of which come with staggering costs that she would not be able to afford without Medicaid. 
Whitney Lee is a disability rights and mental health consultant in Utah who focuses specifically on autism. They participate in research studies on autism and suicide and have assisted researchers studying Medicaid recipients. Whitney has relied on Medicaid for about five or six years in addition to being covered under their parent’s insurance plan. Medicaid helps cover the remaining medical costs that would be over one hundred dollars or more.
When his daughter Gloria was born with complex medical needs, Leslie Rogers uprooted his life to fight for her survival. The family endured impossible choices, liquidating their savings and facing sleepless nights to keep her alive. Medicaid finally gave them stability, but with cuts looming and critical programs already shrinking, Leslie worries families like his could once again be pushed to the brink.
After graduating into a tough economy, Sarah juggled part-time teaching and self-employment, but couldn’t afford the health insurance offered through her jobs. When Michigan expanded Medicaid, she finally gained coverage that allowed her to access essential surgeries, ER visits, and ongoing care for serious health issues. For Sarah, Medicaid wasn’t just financial relief, it was the difference between survival and devastating medical debt.
Erica Manns, a 43-year-old Adean women living in the Millard area of Omaha, knows firsthand the critical role Medicaid plays in a family's ability to survive and thrive. As a mother, student, and working professional with degrees in human resources, marketing, dental assisting, community health, nursing, and program management, Erica has managed a demanding life while navigating serious health challenges—both her own and those of her children. Through it all, Medicaid has been a lifeline.
For Marshawn, Medicaid has been the difference between access to care and serious risk for herself and her loved ones. She highlights its importance not just for personal health but for strengthening families and society.