The federal government’s medical screening requirements for children younger than age 21 include comprehensive health and developmental history, an unclothed physician examination, immunizations, lab tests, and health education.
A report from the Office of the Inspector General found that in 9 states, many children on Medicaid are not receiving the recommended care.
Key findings from the report:
- Three out of four children did not receive all required medical, vision, and hearing screenings
- In 9 States, 76 percent of children did not receive all required medical, vision, and hearing screenings
- Forty-one percent of children did not receive any required medical screenings
- Nearly 60 percent of children who received EPSDT medical screenings lacked at least one component of a complete medical screening, most often laboratory tests were missing
Officials from all selected States’ Medicaid agencies identified strategies to increase both the number of children who receive screenings as well as the completeness of medical screenings.