With the COVID-19 public health emergency on its way out, states are set to start up the redetermination for Medicaid beneficiaries. Among the millions who will lose healthcare coverage in this process are children, who make up the majority of Medicaid recipients. The number of children to be dropped is still uncertain, but it is estimated to be around 1/3 of kids on the program.
According to Christine Vestal, “This upheaval comes as child vaccination rates sink to historic lows, a teen mental health crisis worsens, and millions of kids fall behind on routine screenings to detect physical and developmental problems that require early interventions. Pediatricians worry that the plunge in coverage will result in millions of children forgoing the medical and mental health care they need at a critical time. ”
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(Source: Pew, April 27th, 2023)
