EPSDT: A Crucial Tool for Serving Kansas Kids

Efforts to connect children and adolescents with needed mental health services are often hindered by persistent gaps in coverage, insufficient supply of qualified providers, and ongoing stigma about youth mental health. Recent federal and state budget cuts intensify these challenges, even as young people continue to express significant need for quality, accessible, appropriate behavioral health assessment and intervention. This Research Impact Talk centers around the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit in Medicaid and CHIP, its potential to improve health outcomes of Medicaid/CHIP beneficiaries age 21 and younger, and the factors that have limited Kansas’ success in meeting the benchmark of 80% EPSDT utilization at the well-child visit.

Whitney Grube, LMSW, PhD, is currently an Assistant Professor in the KU School of Social Welfare. Dr. Grube’s primary area of scholarship focuses on children and adolescents experiencing complex and severe mental health disorders, community mental health services, and Medicaid Waivers used as interventions for children experiencing a serious emotional disturbance (SED). She has extensive experience with the evaluation of early childhood systems and evidence-based practices. Additionally, Dr. Grube has numerous years of experience providing technical assistance, training, and consultation to local community mental health centers on implementing strengths-based case management for youth receiving outpatient mental health services.

Donna Cohen Ross is an independent advisor to government agencies, nonprofit organizations and private foundations, specializing in the design and implementation of policies that make public programs work better for children and families. Her practical, results-focused, systems-savvy approach has helped to establish and strengthen lasting cross-sector partnerships, boosting access to health coverage, nutrition assistance, tax credits and other public benefits. Donna’s most recent efforts have leveraged her deep expertise in Medicaid and CHIP policy and financing to sharpen the focus of pediatric primary care on social and emotional development, leading to innovative investments in early literacy promotion, preventive behavioral health services, and the development of the future health care workforce. From 2010 to 2016, Donna served as a Senior Policy Advisor and Director of Enrollment Initiatives in the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services at the US Department of Health and Human Services. Prior to her federal service, she directed the outreach division at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and held leadership positions in national and state policy, advocacy and research organizations. Donna is the creator of nationally acclaimed strategy guides and other materials, providing powerful resources for the field.

Dr. Kourtney Bettinger, MD, MPH, is an Associate Professor and general pediatrician practicing at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She trained at the Children's Hospital of Colorado and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Her patients include immigrants and refugees with many Spanish-speaking families. Dr. Bettinger serves the Kansas Department of Health and Environment as the Medical Director of Medicaid and the Newborn Screening Program, and she also works as an Associate Director of Global Health with Children’s Mercy Graduate Medical Education. Dr. Bettinger has four young children and loves to be outside with her family or reading a good book.

David Jordan is the President of the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, joining the Fund in February 2018.  Before joining the Fund, David served as the executive director of the Alliance for a Healthy Kansas, a coalition of over 100 organizations working to improve health and access to health care in Kansas.  David oversaw the Alliance’s operations and the effort to expand KanCare, Kansas’ Medicaid program. David joined the Alliance after spending nearly seven years at Community Catalyst, a leading national consumer health advocacy organization, as the Dental Access Project Director. At Community Catalyst, David led a national campaign to expand access to dental care by initiating and supporting state campaigns to establish the practice of dental therapists. David has also served as chief of staff to a Massachusetts state senator and led integrated communications campaigns at Solomon McCown & Company. He also managed the successful MassACT! ballot campaign, which in part led to Massachusetts’ landmark 2006 health care law. David lives in Lawrence with his wife Suzanne, son Sam, and daughter Elizabeth. David holds a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Kansas and Bachelors of Science in Speech Communication from Emerson College.