Improving CARE for Youth Act

Key Points

• The bill stops state Medicaid programs from denying payment for a mental health visit and a primary care visit that happen on the same day at the same clinic.
• A 'same-day qualifying service' is defined as a mental health and a primary care service delivered to the same person on the same day at the same office, clinic, or outpatient facility, even if by different providers.
• This lets families handle both physical and mental health needs in a single visit instead of two separate trips, saving time and transportation costs, which especially helps lower-income families.
• The bill amends title XIX of the Social Security Act, the law governing Medicaid, directly targeting how Medicaid reimburses providers for combined care visits.