Chapter 4 looks at appropriate access to residential treatment services for youth who are enrolled in Medicaid. Federal law requires that services (e.g., behavioral health) be provided to youth with disabilities. Some youth with intense treatment needs or those who pose a safety risk to themselves or their families and cannot be served in the community require access to residential treatment. For children whose needs cannot be met in the community, it is important that residential treatment options be available when they are needed. However, difficulty finding real-time information on facility and bed availability and specialized care can hinder access to residential services. In addition, there is no single federal data source on the use of residential treatment, including in out-of-state facilities. The Commission makes recommendations aimed at improving appropriate access to residential behavioral health treatment for Medicaid-enrolled children and youth.
From: June 2026 Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP