CURRENT PROJECT
Strategies to Ensure Quality Early Childhood Development & Infant Mental Health Services for State Medicaid Agencies Utilizing Managed Care
OPIP has received funding from the Perigee Fund for a two-year initiative (July 2026–June 2028) focused on advancing early childhood developmental health through Medicaid systems. Because Medicaid covers more than 45% of children under age six in the United States, state Medicaid agencies and Medicaid managed care organizations have a significant opportunity to strengthen access to developmental and infant mental health services
- The purpose of this proposal is to support Medicaid agencies to invest in required performance metrics and/or performance improvement projects that focus on early childhood developmental health and that address the gap in infant mental health services available to insured children who should be receiving EPSDT-aligned care.
- Oregon’s experience has shown that when required performance metrics and performance improvement projects included a focus on early developmental health, system leaders focused on understanding and addressing root causes for gaps in services, such as workforce shortages. This proposal supports spread of these effective strategies to other states.
Two summary briefs will be created:
- Summary Brief #1: Developmental Screening in the First Three Years of Life CHIPRA Core Measure: Leveraging Performance Metrics and PIPs. (Spring 2027)
- Summary Brief #2: Addressing EPSDT-Aligned Infant Mental Health Services for Young Children Through Medicaid Performance Metrics and Performance Improvement Projects.
OPIP will provide technical assistance and share lessons that can be adapted by other states, with a particular emphasis on using performance measurement to drive meaningful system change and incorporating the expertise and perspectives of families and family advocacy organizations.
