Medicaid

Children's insurance - or lack of it- keeps parents on edge (Virginia)  

By Amy Jeter

The Virginia-Pilot

February 13, 2011

Crystal Stringfield, a mother of two small children, has a story like many other American families. After being laid off, Stringfield's health insurance coverage expired a week before her daughter was diagnosed with ADHD and prescribed an expensive medication.   But she was able to receive coverage for her daughter's care through Virginia's children's health insurance program, called Family Access to Medical Insurance Security Plan, within 3 weeks of becoming uninsured.

The number of uninsured children in Virginia is the lowest it's been in two decades but it could be lower, as many families who would qualify for coverage do not apply.  This article discusses some of the challenges and consequences of uninsurance for children and stresses the importance of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the coming expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act in reducing uninsurance among children.

Feds help states seeking to cut Medicaid rolls (Arizona)  

By: Marilyn Werber Serafini

Miami Herald

February 17, 2011

Arizona recently requested an exemption from the new health care law that requires states to maintain current Medicaid eligibility levels. But according to officials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, states are not required under the ACA to renew their expiring waivers that cover optional populations, including non-disabled and non-pregnant adults.  The voluntary expansion of Arizona's Medicaid program to include some childless adults which was enacted years ago will be allowed to expire on September 30th, resulting in the loss of Medicaid coverage for approximately 250,000.  Currently it is unclear how many states will follow Arizona's lead in allowing their waivers covering optional populations to expire or how many people might be at risk.

Data and Multimedia 

2007 NSCH Disparities Snapshot: Special Health Care Needs

National Survey of Children's Health

In a new interactive online resource from the Data Resource Center, findings from the 2007 National Survey of Children's Health on measures of health and health care services among children with and without special health care needs can be compared by state, HRSA region or nationwide.  In addition, 79 indicators of child health and health care, including many associated with special health care needs, can be compared based on insurance status on the NSCH website.

Rising Expectations: The Developmental Disabilities Act Revisited

National Council on Disability (NCD)

February 2011

The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DDA) was originally authorized in 1963 and was reauthorized in 2000 with the goal of improving the lives of people with developmental disabilities, protecting their civil and human rights and maximizing their potential. The National Council on Disability (NCD) has published a report on a yearlong study looking at how well the programs established under the DDA are meeting the needs of people with developmental disabilities and their families. The study found that although there have been significant gains in disability rights there continue to be considerable barriers and insufficiencies in support services.

Catalyst Picks

Special needs advocacy groups concerned over health care cuts (Texas) 

By: Erika Flores

Valley Central

February 11, 2011

Down by the Border is a Texas-based group that advocates on behalf of children with disabilities.  After playing an important role in the passage of  legislation expanding  Medicaid coverage for children with disabilities, Down by the Border parent advocates have become concerned with the proposed cuts to state-funded health care for children with special health care needs, particularly those who require physical therapy and other services that private insurance typically does not cover or covers inadequately. This group, along with others, plan to tell their story in Austin in an effort to help state legislators understand the impact of potential cuts on children with disabilities and their families.

Washington should insure the futures of children with autism

By: Geraldine Dawson

The Seattle Times

February 6, 2011

About half of states in the U.S., including Washington, do not require private health insurance coverage for autism treatment. This leaves thousands of families in Washington state alone with a critical gap in coverage. In this opinion piece, a leading advocate for children with autism makes the case that taxpayers and families lose when missed opportunities for intervention increase the costs associated with providing the care and supports children with autism require.  To date, twenty-three states have enacted laws mandating coverage of autism-related services and others are considering them.

NSCH & NC-CSHCN Measures up for Public Comment

Data Resource Center

**Deadline: February 23, 2011**

The Data Resource Center submitted several measures from the National Survey of Children's Health and the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs to the National Quality Forum's Call for Child Health Quality/Outcome Measures which were accepted, including medical home and insurance adequacy.  An additional 12 child health quality outcome measures submitted by the Data Resource Center are currently open for public comment through Wednesday, February 23d at 6 PM ET. To view a draft of the National Voluntary Consensus Standards for Child Health Quality Measures 2010 visit the  National Quality Forum's website. To submit your suggestions or comments on the additional child health quality measures under consideration by the NQF please visit the public page.

This page requires a log-in process which is easy and free to set up.

Rep. Napolitano gets celebrity support for mental health bill

By: Julian Pecquet

The Hill

February 17, 2011

Rep. Grace Napolitano, the co-chair of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus, is hoping to gain support for a new Mental Health in Schools Act that would authorize $200 million in competitive grants to provide mental health professionals in 200 or so public schools across the country.

Health advocates fear worse

By: Shira Schoenberg

Concord Monitor

February 17, 2011

New Hampshire State Rep Rich DiPentima worries that a proposed budget by the governor would jeopardize services for people with developmental disabilities as well as oral health programs for children. The budget cuts have hit the Department of Health and Human Services especially hard, programs under which account for approximately 40% of state spending in New Hampshire.  Advocates for vulnerable populations believe that their strongest argument to the legislature is that their services help save the state money in the long run by mitigating more costly problems.

Hitting the most vulnerable: Proposed cuts target pregnant women, babies and children with special health care needs

AMCHP

February 17, 2011

In the revised continuing resolution bill (HR 1 ) funding for the Title V MCH Block Grant would be cut by $50 million. Leaders in the MCH community have called these cuts harmful and say they undermine protections for one of the most valuable resources in any society - mothers and children.  For the latest updates on the Federal FY11 budget and its potential impact on MCH programs, visit AMCH's legislative alerts page.

Events 

Webinar: Care Coordination: Expanding the team to the healthcare community - The experience of a patient-centered medical home (PCMH)

Date: Thursday, February 24th, 10 am - 11am (EST)

Presented by: Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative

Practicing Family Medicine Physician, Dr. Holly Cleney, will present on her team's approach to care coordination within the community. Participants will have the opportunity to learn how a patient-centered approach can support effective care coordination. Click here

to register for this free webinar.

Effect of hospital-based comprehensive care clinic on health costs for Medicaid-insured medically complex children

By: Casey PH, Lyle RE, Bird TM, Robbins JM, Kuo DZ, Brown C, Lal A, Tanios A, Burners K

Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine

February 2011

This study compared the costs for children with complex medical needs covered by Medicaid pre- and post enrollment in a multidisciplinary clinic that provides comprehensive and coordinated care. The study looked at a total of 225 children and found that the overall Medicaid cost per child decreased significantly.

 

If you have suggestions for news items related to coverage and financing of care for CYSHCN please email Week in Review editor and Catalyst Center Research Assistant Sheila Phicil by 12 pm EST on Friday at sphicil@bu.edu.