Youth in Juvenile Justice System

Medicaid is important to juvenile justice-involved youth both as a health care financing mechanism and as a way to access physical and behavioral health services. The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP), with the support of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, is working with the Models for Change grantee organizations and state policymakers to address the health needs of youth in the juvenile justice system. This issue brief from NASHP is the first in a series that highlights findings from surveys of juvenile justice and Medicaid agencies in order to determine policies around health care and Medicaid for youth involved in the juvenile justice system. The paper focuses on findings related to inter-agency collaboration, as well as educating juvenile justice agencies and staff about Medicaid policies, and data collection about the population both agencies serve.

This summary is intended to assist professionals who work in systems serving children, such as juvenile justice and child welfare. For more information about Medicaid and its key concepts as they relate to the juvenile justice system, see A Medicaid Primer for Juvenile Justice Officials. As of November 2007, 998,584 adults and children were covered under Washington’s Medicaid program and State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).  Washington operates its SCHIP program separately from Medicaid. The state also uses state-only funding to provide a low-cost health insurance option to adult residents. In federal fiscal year 2005, approximately $5.7 billion was spent for Medicaid services in Washington, and an additional $51 million was spent for SCHIP services. (These figures include spending for both adults and children.) The federal government supplied 51 percent of the funding for Medicaid and 65 percent of the funding for SCHIP.

This summary is intended to assist professionals who work in systems serving children, such as juvenile justice and child welfare. For more information about Medicaid and its key concepts as they relate to the juvenile justice system, see A Medicaid Primer for Juvenile Justice Officials. As of January 2008, 1,007,188 adults and children were covered under Louisiana’s Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Louisiana operates its SCHIP program as an expansion of Medicaid. There were 891,451 people enrolled in the Medicaid program and 115,737 children enrolled in SCHIP.  In federal fiscal year 2005, approximately $5.3 billion was spent for Medicaid services in Louisiana, and an additional $126 million was spent for SCHIP services. (These figures include spending for both adults and children.) The federal government supplied 71 percent of the funding for Medicaid and 80 percent of the funding for SCHIP.

Juvenile justice agencies face a significant challenge meeting the health needs of the youth in their systems. Medicaid, which provides health coverage to more than half of all low-income children in this country, can be a vital partner in juvenile justice reform efforts. However, coordination between juvenile justice systems and state Medicaid programs can be much improved. It may help many juvenile justice officials to learn more about Medicaid and how it can be used to improve their programs and the lives of the young people they work with. The purpose of this State Health Policy Briefing is to provide those who work with system-involved youth with an introduction to Medicaid and its key concepts, as they pertain to the juvenile justice system.