Efforts to connect children and adolescents with needed mental health services are often hindered by persistent gaps in coverage, insufficient supply of qualified providers, and ongoing stigma about youth mental health. Recent federal and state budget cuts intensify these challenges, even as young people continue to express significant need for quality, accessible, appropriate behavioral health assessment and intervention. This Research Impact Talk centers around the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit in Medicaid and CHIP, its potential to improve health outcomes of Medicaid/CHIP beneficiaries age 21 and younger, and the factors that have limited Kansas’ success in meeting the benchmark of 80% EPSDT utilization at the well-child visit. Participants will learn about this crucial tool for meeting children’s health care needs—including for behavioral health screening and intervention—hear insights from evaluation research probing the low levels of participation, and explore techniques to incorporate into their own work to leverage this important benefit.

This panel will share key information about Medicaid's EPSDT benefit and how practitioners can leverage it to connect children and families to screening, diagnosis, and treatment resources. Dr. Whitney Grube will be in conversation with key leaders around this benefit, moderated by David Jordan of United Methodist Health Ministry Fund.