Medicaid Covers Nearly Half of All Children with Special Health Care Needs. Funding Cuts Could Terminate Their Access to Care.

Nearly 14 million children in the U.S. have special health care needs — and almost half of them have Medicaid.

Medicaid is health coverage that covers a range of basic primary care and specialized health services that help children with complex and chronic needs or disabilities maintain their health and thrive. This support is critical, as many of these children live with serious conditions — such as asthma or epilepsy — that require access to specialty physicians, therapies, medical equipment, and other long-term supports.

However, this lifeline is at risk as Congress considers billions of dollars in spending cuts to Medicaid. Two new briefs from Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families (CCF) and Family Voices, “Medicaid Helps Families of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs” and “Medicaid Helps Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs,” illustrate what is on the line for children and their families:  

• Uniquely comprehensive medical coverage and affordable care: Medicaid covers a range of medical and long-term care services that private insurance does not, such as speech and occupational therapy, medical equipment, and medications. This support helps children with complex needs stay healthy, go to school, and thrive – without sending their families into medical debt.
• Funding for supports at home and in schools: Medicaid is the main source of funding for home and community-based services (HCBS), which help children receive specialized care at home with their families instead of in institutions. The program also helps schools provide services for students with disabilities, including therapies and adaptive equipment.

One family put it this way: “Because of Medicaid, my daughter with Angelman Syndrome was able to receive physical therapy that helped her learn to walk. Our family never would have been able to afford several years of weekly physical therapy for her without Medicaid.”

Federal cuts to Medicaid would undermine support for millions of families like this one. We urge Congress to reject cuts that would reduce federal dollars to states and, in turn, lead to loss of coverage and limits on access to care for millions of children who have identified needs.