Editorial

Photo essay shows other side of Medicaid issue

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

"Obamacare" and Nebraska's decision not to participate in the related expansion of Medicaid are popular topics of debate in bars and coffee shops around the state, and a popular target for politicians, including many now in office.

Lest the other side of the story be neglected, the Munroe-Meyer Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center has launched the "Medicaid Works" photo project to spotlight the good Medicaid does for those who depend on it for help that would otherwise not be available.

Freelance photographer Grace Young of Lincoln chronicled the lives of five Nebraska families who rely on the Medicaid program to maintain a semblance of normal life.

"Each shoot left me overwhelmed by the amount of energy and dedication it takes to maintain an independent life while being a Medicaid advocate," Young said. "I am so grateful to the families and individuals who allowed a stranger with a camera into their homes to document their lives," she said. "This experience left me with a far greater understanding and respect for those living with a disability."

Her subjects:

* A single mother of two boys who suffers from a degenerative genetic condition affecting her lower limbs and progressively impairing her mobility.

* A woman with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which severely affects her digestive system, lungs and other body systems. Her 18-year-old twins, born prematurely, have inherited the condition, as well as struggling with epilepsy, asthma and chronic joint pain. One has autism, the other partial hearing loss and mild cerebral palsy. A third child born prematurely requires a feeding tube for nutrition and medications to treat her chronic kidney disease.

* A woman who became disabled at four after bing crushed by a falling tractor tire while rescuing her older sister from the tire's path. She went on to earn a degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and continues to lead an active life.

* A man with Down syndrome who was "kicked out" of several day care centers when the providers found it difficult to meet his needs. Once approved for a Medicaid waiver, he was able to get the help he needed to develop skills to control his behavior, enjoy his youth and begin preparing for adulthood. He's now in waiver-funded supported employment and receives feedback and praise from his supervisors at work.

* A teenage boy who contracted a septic infection caused by enterovirus as an infant, suffering permanent neurological damage causing significant intellectual and developmental impairments. He underwent a liver transplant two years ago and lives at home, thanks to the Medicaid Aged and Disabled waiver.

As illustrated by the photographs and narrative, children and adults with disabilities rely on the Medicaid program to ensure their health, independence, financial stability, and overall quality of life.

Funding for the project was provided through Nebraska Appleseed from the Nebraska Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities, along with help from the federal Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, as well as the Arc of Nebraska and Disability Rights Nebraska.

You can view the photo essays here.

If you've been helped by Medicaid, you're encouraged to go to http://bit.ly/1u3XU4g or http://neappleseed.org/medicaidworks to submit your story.

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