Wyden and Pallone Applaud CMS for Ensuring 38 Million Children in Medicaid Receive Full Benefits

Wyden and Pallone Applaud CMS for Ensuring 38 Million Children in Medicaid Receive Full Benefits

Washington, D.C. - Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr., D-N.J., released the following statement today applauding the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for taking action to ensure states and Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) provide nearly half of America's children and youth the full set of benefits to which they are entitled under Medicaid's Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) requirements.

"Today's announcement is the first step to ensuring millions of children enrolled in Medicaid are able to get health care when they need it - especially behavioral health care. We will continue to work with the Biden-Harris administration so that children who count on Medicaid are guaranteed access to the care they need."

Medicaid's EPSDT benefit provides children and youth enrolled in the program with the guarantee of a comprehensive set of needed services, including services to treat behavioral health conditions, helping prevent, address, and treat problems early on. CMS was directed to issue this guidance in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA). Wyden and Pallone secured this provision in BSCA in the aftermath of gun violence tragedies at schools, concern for the growing crisis related to children's mental health, and to address existing gaps in coverage and care.

Wyden and Pallone have consistently prioritized access to care for children in Medicaid. Last year the lawmakers launched an investigation into the largest Medicaid MCOs' rate of prior authorization denials, including prior authorization denial rates for services for children.

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