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 October 3-4, 2007, at their annual leadership forum to discuss issues identified in the Youth Services Advocacy Agenda. Danna Mauch, Ph.D., principal associate/scientist with Abt Associates, presented preliminary findings from a research project the company is conducting on the role of residential treatment in the continuum of behavioral healthcare. The Abt project is supported by NAPHS and the National Association of Children’s Behavioral Health. Preliminary findings identify the acuity of children and youth being treated in residential treatment facilities as well as the intensity of services provided and the professional level of staff serving children and youth. Participants in the leadership forum also discussed the NAPHS position on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid's (CMS) proposed rule on Medicaid coverage for rehabilitative services. Members affirmed the importance of the use of the “under 21” benefit for the financing of treatment for children and youth in psychiatric residential treatment facilities and recommended delay in implementation of a final rule until the rule’s impact is more fully understood and managed.

Highlights of the September 14-15, 2006, NAPHS Youth Services Leadership 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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