Many States are transitioning children and youth in foster care from fee-for-service to Medicaid Managed Care programs to better coordinate care, control costs, and improve health care quality. To address the unique and often complex needs of children and youth in foster care, States are increasingly implementing specialized Medicaid managed care service delivery models.
Recommendation: As State Medicaid programs explore opportunities to better serve children and youth in foster care, they will want to consider, in conjunction with their child welfare and behavioral health partners, how specific provisions and requirements can be leveraged within their service delivery models. In doing so, state Medicaid programs may be better equipped to oversee the care provided, thereby improving timely access to high-quality services and strengthening integration across child welfare-serving systems.
