New Medicaid Benefit Targets Improving Care Options for Children With Medically Complex Conditions

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a new Medicaid home health benefit designed for children with such medically complex conditions as cerebral palsy, severe autism, muscular dystrophy, and serious mental health illness.

To secure the expert medical care children with special needs often require, families may have no other choice but to travel to another state. With this new benefit option, the CMS seeks to ease that burden, giving families of these children broader options for services, even if those services are only available through out-of-state providers. Beginning in October, states can opt to cover health home services for Medicaid-eligible children with medically complex conditions.

“Every child deserves the care and support they need to stay healthy and thrive,” Xavier Becerra, Health and Human Services Secretary, said in a news release. “We are committed to providing families with access to appropriate pediatric specialty and subspecialty medical services, including when those services are needed across state lines.”

Learn more about the guidance issued to states by the CMS.