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Addressing Childhood Obesity through the Healthy Children & Youth Program

Obesity is a complex, chronic, and relapsing condition affecting over 14.7 million US children. Without intervention, it is estimated that 60% of today’s two-year-olds will live with obesity by age 35. Despite these risks, very few children receive guideline-recommended care, and only 13% receive necessary lab screenings for metabolic conditions. As a MO HealthNet provider, you play a critical role in changing these outcomes.

Through the Healthy Children and Youth (HCY) Program, MO HealthNet covers all medically necessary services for eligible members under age 21. This includes:

  • Comprehensive Screening: Regular monitoring of growth patterns and health risks.
  • Obesity-Related Prevention: Early intervention and education for families.
  • Treatment Services: Multi-component behavioral interventions and metabolic screenings.
  • Guideline-Based Care: CMS defines childhood obesity as a BMI in the 95th percentile (as reported by a parent/guardian).
     

MO HealthNet also offers Biopsychosocial Treatment of Obesity services for participants. Biopsychosocial Treatment of Obesity provides integrated medical nutrition therapy (MNT), when available, and behavioral health services, coordinated by the primary care or referring physician, or other licensed practitioner, to facilitate behavior changes to manage obesity and associated comorbidities for youth and adult participants. This program offers services consistent with the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations for intensive, multicomponent behavioral interventions to improve weight status for adults and youth with obesity. Refer to the Behavioral Health Provider Manual for more information. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends Family Healthy Weight Programs. These programs focus on lifestyle changes and connecting families to broader support systems, such as access to healthy food, parks, and safe school environments. Providers can reshape patient interactions to focus on "whole-family" behavioral changes. You can find resources for these interventions at the CDC Family Healthy Weight Programs website.
For specific coding, billing, and coverage details regarding obesity-related services, refer to the HCY Provider Manual.

For additional resources, refer to the Education and Training Resources page and/or sign up for a live webinar by accessing our Provider Training Calendar. Email MHD.Education@dss.mo.gov for more information.