Variation In State Medicaid Implementation Of The ACA: The Case Of Concurrent Care For Children

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Pediatric Palliative Care
• Health Policy

Background:

• Over 55,000 children die annually in the US, with hospice care underutilized.
• A third of pediatric deaths stem from chronic conditions, with most beneficiaries enrolled in Medicaid.
• Affordable Care Act Section 2302 mandates Medicaid financing for curative and hospice services for children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the state-level implementation of concurrent care for pediatric Medicaid beneficiaries.
• To identify variations and challenges in concurrent care guidelines across the United States.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of state-level implementation of concurrent care policies for Medicaid beneficiaries.
• Review of guidelines and regulations pertaining to pediatric concurrent care.

Main Results:

• Significant variability exists in state-level concurrent care guidelines for pediatric Medicaid beneficiaries.
• Concurrent care implementation has spurred innovation in pediatric end-of-life care.
• Barriers to accessing pediatric concurrent care have emerged due to implementation variations.

Conclusions:

• State-level implementation of concurrent care for pediatric Medicaid beneficiaries is inconsistent.
• Further standardization is needed to ensure equitable access to concurrent care for children facing end-of-life conditions.