Nearly one in three Medicaid-enrolled children in foster care use behavioral health services, according to a recently published infographic from the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS). The graphic and related fact sheet also highlight the over-prescription of psychotropic medication to foster youth.

Key findings:

  • 1 in 15 Medicaid-enrolled children receive behavioral health services but of Medicaid-enrolled children in foster care, 1 in 3 receive services.
  • 26 percent of Medicaid-enrolled children are prescribed antipsychotics while 42% of foster youth enrolled in Medicaid receive antipsychotics
  • Medicaid is the primary source of health care coverage for children in foster care.

See the infographic here and read the fact sheet here.

Infographic: Overprescription of Psychotropic Medication