We're launching a new CMS pilot program to help children with complex conditions

We hope to connect physical health, behavioral health, and community support

By Mehmet Oz and Abe Sutton March 24, 2026

Oz serves as the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Sutton serves as the director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation and deputy administrator for CMS.

Our public health programs are failing the children who need them most.

Together, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) cover half of all children who have complex medical and behavioral needs or are at risk of developing them, but the current fee-for-service model doesn't treat them holistically.

The family doctor doesn't talk to the physical therapist. The physical therapist doesn't talk to the behavioral specialist. None of them talk to the school counselor. The burden of coordinating care falls on parents, who spend endless hours meeting with providers, filling out forms, and listening to hold music. For many, it feels like a full-time job.

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