Utilization of Well-Child Care Among Medicaid-Enrolled Children. Medicaid Policy Brief 10.

摘要

The Affordable Care Act has focused attention on insurance coverage for and access to preventive services. Through Medicaids Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) program, Medicaid children are entitled to medical screening services. Many of these screening services are typically provided as part of a well-child visit. The American Academy of Pediatrics (2008) recommends multiple well-visits per year for children less than three and an annual well-child visit for children ages 3-21. Despite the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the availability of coverage for well-child visits in Medicaid and many commercial insurance plans, several recent studies have documented underutilization of preventive care for children. Thompson et al. (2003) studied the quality of care for children in commercial and Medicaid managed care plans, and found that only 27 and 48 percent of Medicaid children less than 15 months and ages 3-6, respectively, received a well-child visit. Mangione-Smith et al. (2007) analyzed the quality of care provided to a random sample of children from 12 metropolitan areas and found that they had received only 41 percent of the indicated preventive care.