CHDI Testifies on Medicaid Rates and Coverage for Children's Behavioral Health
President and CEO Jeff Vanderploeg testified virtually before the CGA Human Services Committee on March 17th in support of bills that would increase Medicaid rates for behavioral health services in Connecticut. (Screenshot from CT-N)
This week, CHDI leaders testified on the need to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for behavioral health services in Connecticut and expand the state's Medicaid coverage to include family and youth peer support services.
On March 18th, President and CEO Jeff Vanderploeg, PhD, testified before the Connecticut General Assembly's Human Services Committee to explain the need to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for children's behavioral health services. He spoke in support of two bills—SB 499 and HB 5561— related to the state's Medicaid rates, strongly recommending that the latter be amended to include rates for behavioral health services.
As an ongoing nationwide behavioral health provider shortage coincides with rising needs among children and youth, CHDI has done significant research and analysis on how Connecticut can strengthen and grow its behavioral health workforce. In provider surveys, low reimbursement rates are frequently cited as a top challenge to staff recruitment and retention, particularly among community-based nonprofit agencies.
Last year, the state Department of Social Services published a study showing that Connecticut's Medicaid rates for behavioral health services were significantly lower than those in similar states. For some services, Connecticut's rates were less than 50% of the averages across five "peer" states selected for comparison in the study.
"When we strengthen the behavioral health workforce, children and communities in Connecticut are stronger," Dr. Vanderploeg told legislators. "Increasing Medicaid rates is perhaps the single most important and effective strategy for strengthening the workforce and increasing access to care."
Earlier this month, Director of System Development and Policy Aleece Kelly, MPP, submitted written testimony to the same committee in support of the state providing Medicaid reimbursement for family and youth peer support services, as proposed in H.B. 5480.
Family and youth peer support specialists are parents and caregivers or young adults with lived experience navigating behavioral health systems who are trained to support other parents, caregivers, or youth. Extensive research demonstrates that family and youth peer support services can increase engagement in behavioral health treatment and lead to stronger outcomes for children, parents/caregivers, and families. But, despite the potential of these services, the State of Connecticut has yet to join the 33 other states that offer Medicaid reimbursement and coverage for them.
Watch a clip of Dr. Vanderploeg's testimony below:
Video: CT-N
See CHDI's research-backed recommendations to strengthen Connecticut's behavioral health workforce for children, youth, and families—including raising Medicaid reimbursement rates—in our 2023 Strategic Plan commissioned by the state, or revisit our special blog series on this topic.
CHDI will release a full report on the landscape of family and youth peer support services in Connecticut this spring, but you can find an overview in our 2025 Issue Brief.