Regardless of health insurance status, many children and youth with behavioral health conditions experience difficulty accessing treatment. In the first part of this session, staff presented findings from an analysis of the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, that estimated the prevalence of behavioral health conditions among non-institutionalized youth age 12-17. The analysis also looked at the rates at which they receive treatment, comparing the experience of youth enrolled in Medicaid to those with other sources of coverage. The presentation also focused on access to behavioral health providers, and their participation in Medicaid.
During the second part of the session, three experts discussed the needs of children and adolescents with behavioral health conditions and different approaches states are taking to facilitate access to care. The panelists included:
- John O’Brien, Senior Consultant, Technical Assistance Collaborative
- Dan Tsai, Assistant Secretary, MassHealth and Medicaid Director, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- Kristine Herman, Chief, Bureau of Behavioral Health, Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services