Ohio Department of Medicaid Strengthens Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health System through the DC:0–5
The Ohio Department of Medicaid released new DC:0–5 Medicaid guidance to improve diagnosis, billing, and access to developmentally appropriate mental health care for young children.
The DC:0-5 is the only diagnostic classification system specifically designed for infants and young children from birth through age 5. Unlike diagnostic tools developed for older children and adults, it recognizes the unique ways mental health and developmental concerns present during the earliest years of life and emphasizes the critical role of relationships, caregivers, and early experiences in healthy development. The new billing guidance helps providers use the DC:0-5 within Ohio's Medicaid system, supporting more consistent diagnosis, documentation, and reimbursement for developmentally appropriate care. This achievement reflects years of advocacy and collaboration among legislative champions, state agency leaders, providers, and advocates. Groundwork Ohio helped advance this work by partnering with legislative champions to include the DC:0-5 provision in House Bill 7 of the 135th General Assembly, providingproponent testimony, engaging infant and early childhood mental health stakeholders throughout the legislative and implementation process, and continuing to partner with the Ohio Department of Medicaid and providers during implementation. By supporting the use of the DC:0-5 in Medicaid, Ohio is strengthening its ability to identify and respond to developmental, behavioral, and mental health concerns during the earliest years of life when intervention can have the greatest impact. This work will help expand access to developmentally appropriate services and ensure more young children and families receive the early relational and emotional support they need.