title: Behavioral health services in separate CHIP programs on the eve of parity.
abstract: The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) plays a vital role in financing behavioral health services for low-income children. This study examines behavioral health benefit design and management in separate CHIP programs on the eve of federal requirements for behavioral health parity. Even before parity implementation, many state CHIP programs did not impose service limits or cost sharing for behavioral health benefits. However, a substantial share of states imposed limits or cost sharing that might hinder access to care. The majority of states use managed care to administer behavioral health benefits. It is important to monitor how states adapt their programs to comply with parity.
authors.affiliation: Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Washington, DC 20005, USA. rachelg@kff.org
authors.forename: Rachel L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Garfield
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Beardslee
authors.forename: Shelly F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Greenfield
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meara
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D017047:Cost Sharing / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011203:Poverty; D013219:State Government; D014481:United States