The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated a preexisting mental health and substance use disorder crisis among children and young adults in the United States, gripping the most vulnerable in society. Particularly fraught with difficulty are those young individuals “boarding” in emergency departments for extended periods, frequently cycling in and out of psychiatric hospitals, contemplating and sometimes attempting or completing suicide, while grappling with challenges to maintain continuity in education or secure sustainable employment. This concerning development is brought to light by Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP.
In response to this escalating crisis, an upcoming webinar titled “Leveraging Medicaid to Support Children and Youth Living With Complex Behavioral Health Needs” has been slated for November 8th, 1:00 – 2:00 pm ET. The primary objective of this initiative is to explore viable solutions using the Medicaid program to better support these youth grappling with complex behavioral health needs.
The webinar indicates a pivotal move towards utilizing existing public programs such as Medicaid to deliver targeted and effective support to manage and address complex behavioral health problems among young people in the country. Detailed insights from the session could serve to chart a roadmap that aligns public health care initiatives with the pressing mental health needs of the American youth.
Legal professionals working with corporations and law firms may find this webinar particularly enlightening, as key aspects of the discussion are expected to focus on legal provisions and related institutional interventions for improving mental health landscape for children and young adults in the country.