This session will explore two interrelated sets of issues that affect adolescents’ access to essential health care: the role of publicly funded health insurance programs such as Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP); and the laws governing consent and confidentiality in adolescent health care. Several organizations have recently issued major reports or undertaken special initiatives that address how Medicaid and SCHIP can increase adolescents’ access to health care. These entities include the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, the National Adolescent Health Information Center, the Adolescent Health Section of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Center for Adolescent Health & the Law, and the National Association of State Medicaid Directors. Findings and recommendations from these reports and initiatives will be presented and implementation strategies discussed. Implications for the future will be stressed. Particular attention will be given to eligibility, outreach and enrollment; benefits; and service delivery in Medicaid and SCHIP. In addition, a new report from the Center for Adolescent Health & the Law details the minor consent statutes and their confidentiality provisions in all 50 states. The importance of confidentiality in adolescents’ access to health care will be presented, together with commentary on the relationship between state and federal consent and confidentiality laws and insurance programs in assuring adolescents’ access to care. The presenters for the session are five individuals who represent each of the entities that has recently released a report or undertaken an initiative to promote adolescents’ access to health care.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, a participant will be able to: 1. Identify the opportunities provided by Medicaid and SCHIP to increase adolescents' access to health care. 2. Understand the implementation strategies available to expand eligibility, outreach, and enrollment of adolescents; ensure a comprehensive benefit package tailored to adolescents' needs; and improve service delivery so that services are more accessible to adolescents. 3. Identify the range of federal and state consent and confidentiality laws that affect adolescent health care. 4. Understand the relationship between consent and confidentiality requirements and financing programs such as Medicaid and SCHIP. 5. Develop a plan for using Medicaid, SCHIP, and consent and confidentiality requirements to expand adolescents' access to health care in their state or community.
Keywords: Access to Health Care, Adolescent Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.