Brief Improving the Lives of Young Children:
Subtitle
The Role of Developmental Screenings in Medicaid and CHIP
Genevieve M. Kenney, Jennifer Pelletier
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Many young children have health, developmental or behavioral problems that are not identified before entering kindergarten, preventing them from receiving early intervention services. Large gaps in early identification exist in Medicaid, the nation's largest health insurance program for children, in which eligible children are entitled to regular screenings. This brief breaks down the shortfalls in receipt of developmental screenings into: not all eligible children are enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP; not all enrollees see a health care provider; and not all providers have the appropriate skills. To address these problems, states can take a number of steps within the Medicaid/CHIP policy environment.
Research Areas Health and health care
Tags Health equity Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program  State Children's Health Insurance Program
Policy Centers Health Policy Center Center on Labor, Human Services, and Population