Many Medicaid-Enrolled Children Who Were Treated for ADHD Did Not Receive Recommended Followup Care

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurobehavioral disorder with symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The Department of Health and Human Services publishes national quality measures that outline timeframes for followup care for children with ADHD. Additionally, professional guidelines from American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry describe the importance of followup care and behavioral therapy for these children. Some children may not receive followup care or behavioral therapy for reasons such as limited access to care or because practitioners may be unaware of the professional recommendations. This study focuses specifically on the extent to which children do not receive followup care and behavioral therapy.