Assessing Trends of COVID-19-related Health System Changes with Implications for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
Organization: Health Management Associates
Primary Contact: Sharon Silow-Carroll
Grant Amount: $230,000 for 11 months
Date Awarded:
Purpose
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, states are rapidly establishing new funding mechanisms and implementing emergency regulations, while providers are deploying innovative technologies to connect with their patients. It is unclear how these changes will affect children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) and their families. The goal of this project is to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic and the responses by federal and state governments, health systems, and providers affect health care access and policies for CYSHCN in both the short and long term.
Outcome
Health Management Associates (HMA) identified key policy flexibilities enacted during COVID-19 and interviewed a broad range of key stakeholders for additional perspectives. HMA produced a series of recommendations on telehealth, access to care and mental health policies in federal, state, and local programs and health systems. The recommendations were disseminated through a series of webinars where speakers discussed which policies to retain and how to apply lessons learned moving forward. HMA also developed specific recommendations for California programs serving children with special health care needs.