Families USA Submits Comments On Missouri 1115 Waiver Extension Application; Former Foster Care Youth

Families USA submitted comments in support of Missouri’s waiver to extend Medicaid coverage to youth reside in the state but were formerly in foster care in other states — an essential bridge correcting an unintentional gap left by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

For former foster youth with complex health needs, Medicaid is a critical support. An estimated 99% of children in foster care are eligible for Medicaid, and approximately 18,000 of these children age out of the foster care system each year. While they are a small segment of the Medicaid-eligible population, youth aging out of foster care face significantly higher risks of adverse health outcomes than their peers. Medicaid plays an instrumental role in the lives of youth aging out of the foster care system, linking them to the care they need to manage chronic and behavioral health conditions to ensure they enter adulthood on stable footing.

Families USA strongly urges CMS to support Missouri’s waiver and efforts in other states to extend Medicaid coverage to all former foster youth.