Written by Shelly Ten Napel, CEO
Medicaid has been a hot topic over the last several months as Congress has considered its values and priorities relative to the program. At CHAD, we have been pondering the same questions – including reflecting with health center staff on the impact having coverage has on patients and on their own ability to sustain care in the communities they serve. As a way to contribute to this important community-wide conversation, CHAD is launching the “Medicaid Matters to Me” campaign—an initiative to collect and share stories that illustrate the essential role Medicaid plays in the lives of individuals, families, health care workers, and entire communities across South Dakota.
We know from past ballot initiatives and polling that there is widespread public support for the Medicaid program in South Dakota, yet misperceptions and stigma still persist. Our goal with the Medicaid Matters to Me campaign is to use storytelling to turn the lens toward those with lived experience and let them shape the narrative about Medicaid. As we have engaged with our storytellers, it helps us make the connection between larger policy debates and our own personal stories and those of friends, family and neighbors.
“I decided to share my story because Medicaid helped get me where I am today,” says Ellen, a Sioux Falls resident featured on the Medicaid Matters to Me page. When Ellen discovered she was pregnant at just 19, Medicaid became a lifeline for her and later for her newborn son who required a NICU stay. “I graduated college early and am in a professional career that has allowed me to not rely on Medicaid,” she says. “I am so grateful for the support Medicaid provided me and my son.”
The Medicaid Matters to Me campaign was officially launched during a webinar on May 5, 2025, where CHAD staff and partners highlighted the importance of Medicaid, outlined key threats to the program, and introduced opportunities for public storytelling. Participants learned how they can share their own experiences or help patients and loved ones do the same.
Stories collected through the “Medicaid Matters to Me” campaign will be used—with participant consent—to educate policymakers, the media, and the public about the real-life impacts of Medicaid. Participants can also opt to remain anonymous, if they prefer.
Whether you’re a patient, provider, family member, or advocate – your voice matters. To submit your story, to hear directly from individuals across the Dakotas about why Medicaid matters to them, and learn more, visit: https://communityhealthcare.net/medicaid-stories/.
If you are a community organization or individual who wants to use your voice to share positive messages about Medicaid, check out our cache of positive messages, graphics and social media posts. You can also find printable flyers at the campaign homepage.
If you’d like to reach out to a member of Congress to share your own story and your perspective on the importance of Medicaid, follow this link.
