According to the federal government about 510,000 children were in foster care as of September 30, 2006. Most of these children qualify for Medicaid due to receipt of Title IV-E or through another eligibility pathway. Compared to other children in the United States, children in foster care are more likely to be in poor health, both physical and behavioral. Obtaining appropriate health care for these children is often complicated by a number of factors.
For three years (1996-1999) NASHP, with the support of the Nathan E. Cummings Foundation worked with five states to develop models and strategies to improve the coordination and delivery of health services to children in foster care. The Institute to Improve Health Care for Children in Foster Care, supported and encouraged interagency collaboration among Medicaid and Child Welfare services in five states: Alaska, California, Massachusetts, Texas, and Utah.
The Institute produced nine NASHP publications that examine issues of financing, medical passports and other tracking systems, alternative delivery models, and best practices, and that include a toolbox for states seeking to improve health care for children in foster care. NASHP, with the support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The John D. and Catherine T. Foundation’s Models for Change Program has also produced other reports that address issues of concern for this population, such as Medicaid eligibility for transitional youth.
