Preventive Health Services for Children and Youth Under Medicaid: Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment

摘要

The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment program is a unique aspect of the Medicaid program. It is the only federally mandated preventive care program under Medicaid. The program goal, to provide preventive and comprehensive care to all eligible children is laudable; unfortunately, the program has been fraught with problems from its inception. The EPSDT program has suffered greatly from poor design and inadequate implementation. However, the program has allowed almost 18 years of experimentation in the provision of preventive services to low income children and youth. This rich and varied program experience is excellent groundwork for improved preventive systems of health care.