Uncovered Care: How Medicaid and EPSDT Can Transform Youth Mental Health

Across six powerful episodes, Heidi Baskfield of Speak Our Minds and Jason Hopcus of Nobody’s Perfect join forces to break open one of the most misunderstood — yet profoundly important — resources for youth mental health: Medicaid, and its hidden gem, EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment).

Together, they invite listeners into a dynamic and solution-focused journey to answer one urgent question: If Medicaid and EPSDT are designed to help kids thrive, why are so many still falling through the cracks?

In Episode One, Heidi and Jason lay the foundation by introducing themselves, unpacking what Medicaid really is, and explaining why EPSDT is considered the most comprehensive child health benefit in the country — yet is almost entirely unknown to most Americans. They explore how this series aims to change that, not through abstract policy talk, but by spotlighting real stories, elevating voices of experts and families, and catalyzing system-wide collaboration through a model known as the Learning Health Network.

Each subsequent episode dives deeper, featuring frontline experts, policymakers, caregivers, and change-makers who put a fine point on the issues — and possibilities — behind EPSDT. From demystifying bureaucracy and advocating for policy reform to showcasing community-driven solutions and technological innovations, this series is a call to awareness, action, and ultimately, transformation.

Whether you're a policymaker, provider, parent, or advocate, this series will empower you to understand the system, challenge its shortcomings, and become part of a collective force for better mental health care for every child.

Tune in. Speak up. And help unlock the potential of Medicaid to truly serve our nation’s youth.