Medicaid and Youth           

A collaborative effort between NAPHS and the National Association for Children's Behavioral Health (NACBH) is calling on Congress to pay attention to the needs of children and youth with emotional and substance use disorders as they work on implementing the 2007 Medicaid budget. To help policymakers understand the critical role that Medicaid plays in maintaining healthy communities, the two associations have released a shared vision of MEDICAID: Principles for Treatment of Children and Youth with Emotional and Substance Use Disorders.  Also see a joint news release.

NAPHS Youth Services Leadership Forums

Members of the NAPHS Youth Services Committee met in Washington, DC, on October 7-8, 2009, to discuss issues specifically related to the provision of behavioral healthcare services to children and youth. The event, which was chaired by Kevin Sheehan of Youth and Family Centered Services, was the seventh Leadership Forum hosted by the committee. Participants identified as key issues the increased acuity in the patients they treat and pressure from payers to provide services at lower levels of care and shorter lengths of stay. States are cutting reimbursement rates in the face of the recession, which puts additional strain on providers of child and adolescent services reimbursed through Medicaid. NAPHS lobbyist/consultant Michael Bromberg of Capitol Health Group updated the committee on the progress of healthcare reform, offered insights into possible consequences of various elements of the overhaul being considered, and emphasized the importance of grassroots involvement in advocating for the needs of children. At the Forum, Kevin Sheehan announced that Leonard Dziubla, D.C.S.W., C.H.E., will be assuming chairmanship of the Youth Services Committee. Mr. Dziubla is president and CEO of Phoenix Care Systems, Inc., in Milwaukee, WI. He is also a member of the NAPHS Executive Committee. The Youth Services Committee will have another opportunity to network at the 2010 NAPHS Annual Meeting in DC (see www.naphs.org/AnnMeeting), where a committee dinner is planned.

Highlights of the October 3-4, 2007, NAPHS Youth Services Leadership Forum; the September 14-15, 2006, forum; the September 20, 2005, forum; September 28-29, 2004 forum; November 5-6, 2003, forum; and of the January 16, 2003, forum are also available.

*	News release
*	Enhancing Youth Services (a 50-page policy analysis by The Lewin Group outlining our current knowledge and thinking about care for youth with psychiatric, emotional, and behavioral problems)
*	Ready-to-use factsheets: 1. It Doesn't Add Up; Let's Change the Formula 2. Recommendations to improve the lives of children and adolescents with behavioral health disorders 3. Prevalence of mental illness 4. Economic and human impact of neglecting behavioral health needs of youth 5. Coordination is required 6. Treatment Works 7. Model programs make a difference in the lives of children and adolescents with behavioral health disorders.
*	Information exclusively for NAPHS members

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