Children with Specialized Needs
Anthem provides essential care coordination services and supports to children with specialized health care needs and their families. We deliver person-centered, fully-integrated health and support services to our members from birth into adulthood - providing opportunities to grow, thrive and lead meaningful, productive lives in their communities.
Our integrated model addresses each child’s and family’s strengths, needs and preferences; facilitates access to specialty health care and meaningful supports; and effectively coordinates services by:
Bringing together services and supports:
We partner with providers, advocates, system partners and community organizations to develop services and supports that address every type of need children and their families face. We create comprehensive solutions and support families as primary decision makers, caregivers, teachers and advocates for their children.
Reinforcing the role of family and other member relationships:
We engage family members and natural supports in the member’s care to enhance feelings of value and belonging and help the member to achieve emotional well-being.
Facilitating communication:
Through intensive service coordination, collaboration and technology we foster communication between members, families, providers and systems involved in the child’s care and services. We serve as a centralized point of contact to:
- Identify each child’s preferences, needs, and goals
- Build a bridge across the system of care that serves members
- Assure access to needed services and supports
We partner with providers, advocates, system partners and community organizations to develop services and supports that address every type of need children and their families face.
Meeting members and families where they are:
We bring services and supports to local communities where our members live, work and go to school. We collaborate with schools and community-based organizations to facilitate access to the preventive services that help them stay well.
Improving members’ access to employment and housing:
We coordinate with businesses, supported employment, housing and state educational/vocational programs to connect members and families to the supports they need to have meaningful lives.
Examples of our programs that meet children and families where they are include:
- A mobile dentistry campaign that serves urban and rural communities. In 2014 alone, we served 11,141 members, providing cleanings, exams, X-rays, sealants, fluoride treatments, fillings, extractions and more.
- Our Healthy Families Program, highlighted by Medicaid Health Plans of America Diabetes Care as a best practice, has helped 57% of members increase their fruit/vegetable intake, 58% increase their water consumption, 42% increase their activity level and 30% decrease their screen time.
- A Psychotropic Medication Coaches Program that improves therapy outcomes for children who take behavioral medications and are at risk for medication-related problems.