This report presents the first in a series of studies designed to delve more deeply into subjects that are particularly pertinent to children enrolled in the Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa program ( hawk-i ) . These studies are being conducted by the University of Iowa Public Policy Center at the request of the Iowa Department of Human Services (IDHS). For this first study, the IDHS, in collaboration with the Clinical Advisory Committee for the hawk-i program, requested that a study of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) be the specific area of investigation due to the prevalence of this problem and to the general disagreement as to its diagnosis and treatment.

The hawk-i program is the separate portion of the Iowa State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) that provides services to children in families with incomes between 133 and 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). The IDHS contracts with John Deere Health Plan, Iowa Health Solutions and Wellmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield to provide services to hawk-i enrollees on a county-by-county basis.

This study had three primary goals:

•  To determine the prevalence of ADHD diagnosis in the hawk-i population by age and gender of the child

•  To establish baseline demographic information regarding children with a diagnosis of ADHD

•  To evaluate the utilization of behavioral and emotional health care services by children with ADHD