Well Child Visits

MNACHC CEO REPORT - A recent Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) analysis shows that half of children under age 19 received a Medicaid or CHIP-funded well-child visit in 2020. While the pandemic had a substantial impact on health and healthcare service utilization, research has shown that many Medicaid-covered children were not receiving recommended screenings and services even before the pandemic.

The analysis also cited that a larger share of enrollees under age 3 received a well-child visit paid for by Medicaid or CHIP in the year compared with enrollees in older age groups. Well-child visit utilization was highest among enrollees under 1 year of age. Well-child visit rates are lower for Medicaid/CHIP children in rural areas, but rates in urban areas declined more during the pandemic.