Michigan's infant mortality rate and the number of children lacking health care coverage are both unacceptably high. The EPSDT program provides health screening, diagnosis, and treatment for poor children. To improve the health of Michigan's poor children, referrals to this program will be increased through expanded outreach efforts and the use of managed health care.
EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment) is a program of health screening for Medicaid eligible children which has been operative for several years. Children are identified through several different ways and their parents are given the opportunity to receive this screening for their children at no charge.
EPSDT provides significant benefits for families and children:
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It provides access to preventive health practices.
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The early discovery of potential health problems can avoid more costly treatment later.
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It emphasizes for children the importance of health care.
The number of children receiving screening is too low. Therefore, I have asked the Departments of Public Health, Mental Health, Education, and Social Services to coordinate their efforts to move Michigan in the direction of coverage for all children. At a minimum, the Communities First sites should work aggressively towards 100 percent coverage.
Also, the department is expanding its program of managed health care for recipients. In this approach, recipients are assigned to a physician who would then provide health screening as a part of the normal services.
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