HealthySteps Comprehensive Services and Preventive Care: A Medicaid Claims Analysis.

Cohort studyAmerican journal of preventive medicine· Jun 2026

HealthySteps Comprehensive Services and Preventive Care: A Medicaid Claims Analysis.

Renata E Howland, Kelly Terlizzi, Elizabeth Frenette … Charles Neighbors

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Prevention & Screening in Primary CareCohort studyClinical practiceQ1IF 4.3

HealthySteps was associated with higher rates of well-child visits in Medicaid children.

HealthySteps Comprehensive Services and Preventive Care: A Medicaid Claims Analysis.

Renata E Howland … Charles Neighbors

American journal of preventive medicine · Jun 2026

Background

This study examines the association of HealthySteps - a two-generation, team-based pediatric primary care model - on preventive care and healthcare utilization for Medicaid-insured children and mothers, and differences across racial/ethnic groups.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study used linked HealthySteps and Medicaid claims data to compare 12-month outcomes for children receiving comprehensive services with a matched group of similar Medicaid-insured children and mothers.

Results

nearly 9 in 10 attended a well-child visit, versus 4 in 5 without HealthySteps

HealthySteps

89%

Comparison

79.6%

More results

Compared with their counterparts, preventive care increases associated with HealthySteps were larger for Black, Hispanic, and, to a lesser extent, Asian children than for White non-Hispanic children.

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

Improvements in preventive care associated with HealthySteps represent meaningful clinical impact, as timely care in the first three years is crucial for healthy development.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

The larger gains among Black, Hispanic, and Asian children also highlight HealthySteps potential to mitigate persistent disparities in preventive care receipt.

HealthySteps Comprehensive Services and Preventive Care: A Medicaid Claims Analysis.

HealthySteps Comprehensive Services and Preventive Care: A Medicaid Claims Analysis.

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