In this session, staff presented a draft chapter and recommendations on improving access to behavioral health services for children and youth. Many children and youth with behavioral health conditions enrolled in Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) do not receive treatment. For those with significant mental health conditions, the inability to access intensive home and community-based behavioral health services can result in avoidable out-of-home placements and involvement with the foster care and juvenile justice systems.
This presentation provided an overview of the draft chapter, including the prevalence of behavioral health conditions and treatment rates for adolescents enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP and the availability of behavioral health providers serving children and adolescents in these programs. It details the needs of those with significant mental health conditions and barriers to expanding access to home and community-based behavioral health services for this population.
The Commission approved two recommendations as drafted. The first recommendation calls on the the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to direct relevant agencies to issue joint subregulatory guidance that addresses the design and implementation of benefits for children and adolescents with significant mental health conditions covered by Medicaid and CHIP. The second recommendation calls on the Secretary to direct a coordinated effort to provide education, technical assistance, and planning support to expand access to such services.