Medicaid & EPSDT – The Hidden Backbone of Youth Mental Health

When it comes to youth mental health care in America, there’s a benefit so powerful it should be leading the conversation—but almost no one knows it exists.

In the debut episode of our new 6-part podcast series, Uncovered Care, hosts Jason Hopcus and Heidi Baskfield of Speak Our Minds kick things off by spotlighting EPSDT—Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment—a federally mandated Medicaid benefit designed to ensure that children and youth receive comprehensive and preventive health services, including mental health care.

Why This Matters:

• Medicaid covers more than 40 million children in the U.S.—but most people don’t realize how vital it is to early mental health intervention.
• EPSDT is the key to unlocking that care, ensuring that mental health needs are identified and treated early—before they escalate into crisis.
• Yet, due to lack of awareness, inconsistent implementation, and complex systems, many families never access the benefits their children are entitled to.

In this episode, we unpack:

• What EPSDT actually is and how it works
• Common myths about Medicaid and who it serves
• The real-world impact when these benefits go unused
• Why now is the time to speak up and change the system

Listen now: https://www.nobodysperfect.community/podcasts

This series is your roadmap to understanding how Medicaid and EPSDT can transform youth mental health—and what we all can do to make that transformation real.

👉 Subscribe, share, and stay with us for the next five episodes—each featuring expert guests, real stories, and actionable insights.

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