Mental Health & Neurodevelopmental Disorders Increased Among Publicly Insured Children From 10.7% To 16.5%

The prevalence of mental health or neurodevelopmental disorders among children ages 3 to 17 enrolled in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) increased from 10.7% to 16.5% from 2010 to 2019, a study has found. The percentage of child Medicaid or CHIP beneficiaries with at least two mental health or neurodevelopmental diagnoses also rose steadily, from 3.0% in 2010 to 4.2% in 2016 and 5.5% in 2019.

Children living in poverty are at increased risk of mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders, the researchers stated, and public insurance programs, such as Medicaid, insure . . .