42,138,832 million children
Nearly half of all children in America are covered by Medicaid / CHIPs
MEDICAID Mandates EARLY & PERIODIC Screening
MANDATED SCREENINGS
medical
vision
hearing
dental
MEDICAL SCREENING
includes screening for physical and MENTAL health
The EPSDT benefit requires periodic screening to “ascertain physical and mental defects.”
(b) Screening. (1) The agency must provide to eligible EPSDT beneficiaries, who request it, screening (periodic comprehensive child health assessments); that is, regularly scheduled examination and evaluations of the general physical and mental health, growth of children, and youth . . .
At a minimum, these screenings must include by are not limited to: (i) Comprehensive health and developmental history. . . .
Screening services must include: “a comprehensive health and developmental history (including assessment of both physical and mental health).”
(42 USC 1396d (r); emphasis added).
THE LAW
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING IS FAILING
CONGRESS AGREED & PASSED THE 2022 BIPARTISAN SAFER COMMUNITIES ACT MANDATING THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EPSDT BE REVIEWED AND IMPROVED BY JUNE, 2024
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
