Let’s Be Clear: Cuts to Medicaid Are Cuts to Mental Health Access for Millions of Youth and Young Adults

By Dr. Zainab Okolo, LCMFT, Senior Vice President of Policy, Advocacy, & Government Relations, The Jed Foundation 

The Jed Foundation (JED) was founded more than 25 years ago on the principle that we can prevent suicide for teens and young adults by helping K-12 districts, high schools, and colleges implement comprehensive approaches to supporting mental health and reducing risks for suicide. This work is not insular; we rely on our state and federal governments to ensure that mental health services are available to all young people, regardless of income. Like many of you, we are closely monitoring the new Congress and new administration’s proposals that may have a direct effect on the emotional, mental, and physical well-being of young constituencies. 

The House budget resolution passed last month mandates the Energy and Commerce Committee identify an astounding $880 billion in savings by cutting funding for various programs over the next decade. In contrast, the Senate budget resolution calls for $2 billion in cuts across the Senate Finance and Energy and Commerce committees. As a result, there is no doubt that Medicaid, which falls under the jurisdiction of those committees, faces significant threats. Yesterday, JED sent a letter to the committees’ leaders on behalf of The Jed Foundation to implore them to protect Medicaid, because it is a lifeline for millions of children, youth, and low-income families in need of mental health services ranging from prevention and awareness to diagnosis, treatment, and management. 

Medicaid is the nation’s single largest payer for mental health services, and it provides coverage for nearly half of all children in the United States. For millions of children and families, Medicaid upholds two essential principles: mental health is an integral part of health care and it is a fundamental right, not a luxury. If Congress dismantles the program or limits its reach through funding cuts, it will reverse much of the progress made to expand mental health access since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Specifically, many schools throughout the country established onsite mental health services for students on Medicaid thanks to the guidance and funding made available through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022. If federal funding to states for Medicaid is reduced, it will jeopardize the sustainability of onsite school services that depend on Medicaid reimbursement. 

At JED, we provide technical assistance to school districts and college campuses dedicated to preventing suicide and enhancing student well-being, because mental health is essential to success in any environment. Awareness and prevention training, however, are only part of the solution — access to screening and treatment for those who need it is equally crucial. As part of JED’s Comprehensive Approach to student well-being, we support schools in ensuring that students improve help-seeking behaviors and understand the resources and treatments available. For many students and families, that means accessing mental health treatment through Medicaid, which offers a crucial continuum of care through students’ most formative years. That access is vital for supporting both students’ emotional well-being and their ability to succeed academically.

Let’s not lose sight of our collective goal to help youth flourish and thrive. Medicaid is only one of several vital programs under scrutiny by Congress. We must continue to advocate for these common-sense initiatives that we know are wise investments and, above all, the right thing to do.

Related: A Future at Stake: Safeguarding Youth Mental Health