Mental Health Services: Effectiveness of Insurance Coverage and Federal Programs for Children Who Have Experienced Trauma Largely Unknown

United States. General Accounting Office.

United States. General Accounting Office.

关键词: Government accountability -- United States.;    health care;    mental health services;    letter report;   

RP-ID  :  GAO-02-813
RP-ID  :  235439

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Eighty-eight percent of children nationwide have private or public health insurance that, to varying degrees, covers mental health services, including those that may be needed to help children recover from traumatic events, such as natural disasters, school shootings, or family violence. Despite the widespread prevalence of health insurance coverage for children, depending on their type of insurance coverage and where they live, children may face certain limitations in coverage or other barriers that could affect their access to needed services. The 16 percent of children who are enrolled in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program public insurance programs generally have coverage for a wide range of mental health benefits, and those enrolled in Medicaid are not subject to day or visit restrictions. Beyond providing insurance that can give children access to mental health services, a range of federal programs can help children who have experienced trauma obtain needed services. GAO identified over 50 programs that can be used by grantees to provide mental health and other needed services to children who have never experienced trauma, although many of these programs have a broader focus and were not designed specifically for this purpose."