Children’s mental health challenges have been on the rise nationally and across the state. In some cases, unmet children’s mental health needs are driving kids into the foster care system.
Unfortunately, Texas Medicaid only covers two ends of the spectrum of children’s mental health services: basic therapy/counseling and medications or full inpatient hospitalization. Medicaid coverage does not cover intensive outpatient programs, partial hospitalization, effective community services, or crisis intervention services. The full range of services need to be available so that parents are empowered to make the choice for what is medically necessary and best for their child.
We urge the Legislature to cover additional children’s mental health services through Medicaid. Read more in our new policy brief.
Texans Care for Children gratefully acknowledges Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., for their financial support of this publication. The opinions expressed in this document are those of Texans Care for Children and do not necessarily reflect the views of Methodist Healthcare Ministries.
