Physical and Behavioral Health of Medicaid Children in Two Southern States

Abstract

As the primary insurer of children in the United States, Medicaid covers at least one in four US children. Information on the health and behavioral health needs of this group of children is critical to plan, deliver, and monitor services accordingly. Parent interview data from a representative sample of Medicaid children in two Southern states were used to generate information from standardized questionnaires on physical health status, chronic illnesses, physical functioning, emotional and behavioral symptoms, and psychosocial functioning. The levels of physical and behavioral health and co-occurring problems were higher than other estimates available on the general population. The high levels of health problems among Medicaid-enrolled children need attention in the current struggles over Medicaid reform. Support for improving screening, referral, and integration of services is discussed, as well as the importance of monitoring service system performance in this era of managed care.