Medicaid expansion may prevent child neglect, UW study shows

More than 4 million reports of child maltreatment involving about 7.5 million children were made in 2017 to Child Protective Services. While much work has been done to reduce these high rates of child abuse and neglect in the United States, few programs have been consistently effective.

Now, new research from the University of Washington suggests that expanding Medicaid may help prevent child neglect. After the expansion of Medicaid in 2014, mandated by the Affordable Care Act, there were 422 fewer cases of neglect per 100,000 children under the age of 6 reported each year in states that expanded Medicaid than in states that did not. The study was published June 14 in JAMA Network Open.

More >> Medicaid expansion may prevent child neglect, UW study shows

Mary Mayhew brings Maine failures to Washington

Prior experience is a key part of any job interview, so we’re sure Mary Mayhew’s new boss at the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services looked deep into her work history. If so, they would have seen this assessment from the Office of the Inspector General: “Maine failed to demonstrate that it has a system to ensure the health, welfare and safety of the 2,640 Medicaid beneficiaries with developmental disabilities.”

The inspector general’s report covered 2½ years of Mayhew’s tenure as commissioner at the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, beginning two years after she was named to the job – and it did not reflect well on her. Under Mayhew’s lead, DHHS failed to meet its most basic obligations to residents with severe disabilities, hardly a ringing endorsement of the person who now oversees the Medicaid program nationwide.

More >> Our View: Mary Mayhew brings Maine failures to Washington

• New federal Medicaid director is former Maine official Mayhew

There go the services which will help you to get your kids back.

Trump's Pick To Run Medicaid will lead to more kids being taken away from their parents.

So President Trump has tapped the former head of Maine's Department of Health and Human Services, Mary Mayhew to head the federal Medicaid program. 

• Former Maine DHHS commissioner Mary Mayhew to lead federal Medicaid program

The Family Rights community should be very concerned with this choice for the reason that Ms. Mayhew has a history of defunding programs that once helped  Maine to be a National Model regarding keeping kids safe in the home.   Most of these programs were paid for by Medicaid.  The consequences of this is that Maine, under her leadership, went from a National Model Child Welfare System due to being leaders in the home, to one of the biggest messes in the USA.

Now DHHS in Maine is taking more kids away and there is less chance of them ever going home.

I could write a whole analysis of this, but I've already been doing that for years so I'll just post a few links.

• Why is Maine taking more kids these days? Thanks Governor LePage!
• Maine to Launch Child Abuse Prevention Effort - A Mary Mayhew Photo Opportunity
• More Pathetic PR From The Only Scrutiny Free Department in Maine's DHHS
• Duct Tape Sally and the Maine Child Welfare Reform Turnaround

Hundreds of Texas foster care children denied Medicaid services

A private company that the state has tasked with providing Medicaid coverage to Texas foster children has repeatedly denied requests for critical care, many for children with disabilities.

Between June 7 and July 13, Superior HealthPlan denied medical services to foster children 394 times, according to data the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services provided to the American-Statesman. The agency, which oversees the state’s child welfare programs, started tracking the denials of service last month, in an effort to determine how the denials are affecting foster kids. Foster parents have reported denials from managed care organizations for years.

More >> Hundreds of Texas foster care children denied Medicaid services

Foster kids get antipsychotics at ‘new normal’ rate

Although fewer children in foster care and on Medicaid are getting prescriptions for antipsychotic medicines than during the early and mid-2000s, challenges remain.

More >> Foster kids get antipsychotics at ‘new normal’ rate

For Former Foster Kids, Moving Out of State Can Mean Losing Medicaid

For Former Foster Kids, Moving Out of State Can Mean Losing Medicaid

Soon after moving to Utah this summer, Rainbow Sky Buck ended up at the hospital with a painful ear infection. There, Buck learned she no longer had access to the free health coverage she had in California as a former foster youth.

Foster Youth Medicaid Bill Has Seriously Flawed Reasoning

Foster Youth Medicaid Bill Has Seriously Flawed Reasoning

allow me to make a substantial correction to the reasoning behind this legislation to provide foster youth Medicaid.

Feds Pay for Drug Fraud: 92 Percent of Foster Care, Poor Kids Prescribed Antipsychotics Get Them for Unaccepted Uses

Feds Pay for Drug Fraud: 92 Percent of Foster Care, Poor Kids Prescribed Antipsychotics Get Them for Unaccepted Uses

The release in late March of an alarming new report by federal investigators has confirmed in shocking new detail what has been known for years: Poor and foster care kids covered by Medicaid are being prescribed too many dangerous antipsychotic drugs at young ages for far too long -- mostly without any medical justification at all. The report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Inspector General examined in depth nearly 700 claims filed in 2011 in five of the biggest prescribing states -- California, Florida, Illinois, Texas and New York -- and discovered that two thirds of all the prescribing with these popular and costly "second generation antipsychotics" (SGAs) raised high-risk "quality of care" concerns.

Federal study finds alarming use of antipsychotics among nation's poor children, foster kids

Federal study finds alarming use of antipsychotics among nation's poor children, foster kids

When federal inspectors set out to examine how powerful antipsychotic drugs were being used on children in the nation's public health systems, they found a 4-year-old on four psychiatric drugs, a 10-year-old prescribed without medical records, and a 16-year-old on six psych meds, including a prescription at double the maximum recommended dosage.

Mismanagement is unrelenting at DHHS

Mismanagement is unrelenting at DHHS

North Carolina’s Health and Human Services department made a serious error last week, then compounded the mistake by giving the public misleading information about it.

Fort Fairfield man convicted of terrorizing after threatening DHHS employees

Fort Fairfield man convicted of terrorizing after threatening DHHS employees

A Fort Fairfield man who was upset that he was denied MaineCare coverage was convicted last month of terrorizing and violation of conditions of release after threatening employees of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.

Why is DHHS always asking for more money?

Why is DHHS always asking for more money?

When the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee met last Sunday for a rare weekend session, the focus was a May 28 deadline for lawmakers to approve $35.3 million in additional funding so the Department of Health and Human Services could make its final Medicaid payments of the fiscal year.

Antipsychotic Use by Medicaid-Insured Youths: Impact of Eligibility and Psychiatric Diagnosis Across a Decade

Antipsychotic Use by Medicaid-Insured Youths: Impact of Eligibility and Psychiatric Diagnosis Across a Decade


Objective  This cross-sectional study evaluated the impact of Medicaid-eligibility category on the increased use of antipsychotic medication by Medicaid-insured youths across a decade.

Note: Yes you need subscription, but you get the drift just from the presented intro.

Medicaid and Children in Foster Care

"Oh yeah!  That's where my money goes!!!!"

Medicaid and Children in Foster Care


The health care needs of children in foster care are vast and often compounded by their circumstances. These children face myriad challenges – from placement instability, to emotional, behavioral, and educational difficulties, to juvenile justice involvement – that threaten their health and well-being. Because they are often at the intersection of multiple public systems including behavioral health, child welfare, education, juvenile justice, and primary care, it is critical for these systems to work collaboratively to meet their health needs.

Lost DHHS thumb drive compromises NC care providers’ personal data

Lost DHHS thumb drive compromises NC care providers’ personal data

The personal data for an estimated 1,182 North Carolina medical providers went missing after computer memory stick went missing, the state Department of Health and Human Services announced Friday.

DHHS managers made $580,000 in overtime for delayed project

DHHS managers made $580,000 in overtime for delayed project

RALEIGH A dozen state Health and Human Services employees who don’t normally qualify for overtime pay made an extra $580,000 in overtime over four years without written authorization, according to a state audit released Thursday.

Duh.... State agency mails 2,600 Medi-Cal cards to wrong families

State agency mails 2,600 Medi-Cal cards to wrong families


The state Department of Health Care Services mailed more than 2,600 Medi-Cal cards – which include the recipient's name, date of birth and gender – to the wrong families, officials said Saturday.

Maine DHHS facing $100 million shortfall

Maine DHHS facing $100 million shortfall

Lawmakers expected a $10 million-plus shortfall, but the number given by DHHS commissioner Mary Mayhew sent shock waves through the capitol.

Note: Hmm.  I wonder if it has anything to do with any of this...  

Leader of Myrtle Beach youth mentoring agency wants fraud charges dropped

Leader of Myrtle Beach youth mentoring agency wants fraud charges dropped


The former director of an area youth mentoring agency accused of Medicaid fraud wants the criminal charges dropped because he says prosecutors withheld information from a grand jury that might have shown he was innocent of any wrongdoing.

Pay raises for some DHHS workers while MaineCare recipients will suffer from cuts

Pay raises for some DHHS workers while MaineCare recipients will suffer from cuts


With the go ahead of Governor Paul Le Page The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DDHS) has given some child protective services caseworkers raises of as much as 9 percent despite a wage freeze for state employees that dates to 2009. According to internal emails, the raises for 135 employees handed out last week were meant to boost morale and reduce turnover. The changes could add more than $400,000 a year to the state budget.