Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT)
Description:
The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit provides comprehensive and preventive health care services for children under age 21 who are enrolled in Medicaid. EPSDT is key to ensuring that children and adolescents receive appropriate preventive, dental, mental health, and developmental, and specialty services.
- Early: Assessing and identifying problems early.
- Periodic: Checking children’s health at periodic, age-appropriate intervals.
- Screening: Providing physical, mental, developmental, dental, hearing, vision, and other screening tests to detect potential problems.
- Diagnostic: Performing diagnostic tests to follow up when a risk is identified.
- Treatment: Control, correct, or reduce health problems found.
Note: This is a federal Medicaid benefit, not a waiver.