Early Childhood

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) should require Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to use the Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood (DC:0-3R or DC:0-5) for diagnosis payment and utilization review purposes.[1]

Congress should pass the American Family Act to restore the expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC), which was increased by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in 2021, but expired at the end of that year.[1] In 2021, it drove child poverty to all-time lows.

Congress should raise the federal minimum wage significantly by passing legislation like the Raise the Wage Act.

Evidence-based home visiting programs should be a mandated benefit of health plans and be integrated into collaborative care models.[1]

CMS should encourage state Medicaid programs to set new provider requirements to follow Bright Futures[1] pediatric guidelines to screen for and, if indicated, further evaluate a child for infant and early childhood mental health (I-ECMH) disorders.[2]

Congress should utilize tax credits and grant programs to fund new (or existing) newborn intensive care units in all hospitals to provide specialized care for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and ensure mothers and their children remain in close proximity with each other after birth.[1]