Assessing CSHCN Programs Across the Nation: A Visual Profile of State CSHCN Programs

Background.Creating quality systems of care for CSHCN is one of the most challenging and pressing priorities for CSHCN leaders. State CSHCN programs represent 50 political labs with varying approaches to addressing CSHCN. While some programs provide direct services, others focus on population health. Recognizing the need to understand the shared national vision for CSHCN programs, the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) surveyed CSHCN directors to assess state CSHCN programs. Methods. AMCHP surveyed (2013) state CSHCN directors (n=31) to assess how state programs serve CSHCN. Phase I evaluated the following: program eligibility, significant policy changes, the role of Title V CSHCN programs, system strengths and challenges, and health reform. Phase II will be distributed in March 2014 and will focus on the following topics: medical home, transition, family involvement, care coordination, and financing. Results. Thirty-one CSHCN directors completed Phase I of the survey. Results indicated CSHCN programs share many similarities. Most state programs (90%) utilize multiple criterions to determine program eligibility. When asked to identify system role, states identified “provide care coordination” (80%) and “family support services” (77%) as their role in the larger CSHCN system. State programs also face immensely different issues. Only 19% of states identified geographical issues as a system challenge and states reported drastically different answers regarding health reform policy changes. Conclusions. As focus shifts to improved health systems in the US, understanding how states serve CSHCN at the state level is crucial. This poster will outline emerging programmatic issues at the state and national level.