Childhood Begins at Home Releases Brief on Medicaid Financing of Home Visiting Services

The Childhood Begins at Home campaign has released a new brief that examines the opportunity of Medicaid financing of home visiting services to reach more Pennsylvania families.

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Voluntary home visiting programs employ nurses to support promoting the development and well-being of children and their families. The programs serve families that disproportionately face barriers to health – such as those living in poverty.

“A Closer Look at Medicaid and Home Visiting in Pennsylvania” notes that 66% of Pennsylvania households receiving home visiting services through the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program were at or below 100% of federal poverty guidelines.

This illustrates that many families already receiving home visits are eligible for Medicaid. It also shows there is an unmet need for many enrolled in Medicaid who do not have access to visits.

The study found that:

• Approximately 45% of Pennsylvania children under age 6 are enrolled in Medicaid; this includes nearly 239,000 infants and toddlers (birth to age three) and 126,000 children ages four to five;
• About 34% of all births in Pennsylvania are financed by Medicaid.

Despite MIECHV being reauthorized with additional federal funding opportunities following a 2021 financing report as well as an increase of $15 million increase in Pennsylvania’s 2022-23 state budget, home visiting in the state still only reaches about 7% of eligible families.?

Learn more about the state's recommendations.

About Trying Together

Trying Together envisions a future in which all caregivers of young children feel valued for their work. When we inspire belonging among caregivers, we inspire belonging within them. Our inclusive approach to advocacy, community resources, and professional growth opportunities strives to place diversity, equity, and racial justice at the core of everything we do.

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