Improving behavioral health care has been a legislative priority in Oregon for several years. National surveys show Oregon has a higher prevalence of behavioral health needs among children and youth, but generally better access to care, compared with national averages. In recent years, Oregon state agencies and lawmakers have developed roadmaps, regulations, and laws aimed at improving behavioral health, particularly for children and families.
This analysis explores the prevalence of diagnosed behavioral health conditions among Oregon children and youth enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP. We also describe demographic and equity characteristics, system contacts, and educational experiences among children with and without diagnosed behavioral health conditions.
Highlighted Key Findings
More than a quarter of Medicaid- or CHIP-enrolled children in 2022 had a diagnosed behavioral health condition or event, and 80% of those children had more than 1.
The most prevalent diagnosed behavioral health conditions or events among children and youth were anxiety, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), depression, abuse or neglect, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Diagnosed behavioral health conditions and events were more common in children and youth who were identified as nonbinary, were identified as White, were aged 12 years or older, and had a history of deep poverty.
Two thirds of Medicaid- or CHIP-enrolled children and youth diagnosed with behavioral health conditions or events received behavioral health treatment in 2022.
More than half of Medicaid- or CHIP-enrolled children and youth with diagnosed behavioral health conditions or events accessed an outpatient mental health visit in 2022, about 40% received a behavioral health medication fill, and 27% received both.
Featured Data Visualization
Proportion of children and youth enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP with select behavioral health conditions or events in 2022 who also received services from other state systems
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- More children and youth with histories of substantiated child maltreatment, out-of-home foster care placement, juvenile justice contact, disruptive educational experiences, and disability support had behavioral health conditions or events compared with those without a history of these experiences.
- Although anxiety was the most identified condition or event among children and youth in the overall behavioral health study population and in most subgroups, there were notable differences in the prevalence of other diagnosed conditions or events by these types of lifetime experiences.
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