Lead Screening for Children in the Medicaid Program: a Tool Kit (June 2001)

[ Print Version ]

The purpose of the materials in the Tool Kit is to clarify and support the requirement for blood lead screening for young children who are Medicaid beneficiaries. These materials are intended for health-care providers, staff of managed care organizations and health departments, and regional and state administrators of Medicaid agencies, as well as families and any others involved with EPSDT and Medicaid services.

Not everyone will need every tool in the Kit. It is recommended that the materials be copied and distributed with an eye toward intended audience.

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Tool Kit Item	Description	Intended Target Audience
Cover Letter	Cover letter from Alliance staff that discusses the contents of the tool kit and recommendations for its use.
Tool Kit Cover Page	The front cover page for the entire tool kit.
Fact Sheets on Screening High-Risk Children for Childhood Lead Poisoning [PDF]	One-pagers with streamlined background information on lead poisoning and on screening and follow-up care.	Health care providers, managed care organizations, state Medicaid agencies, state and local health department clinic staff, families.
MMWR: Recommendations for Blood Lead Screening of Young Children Enrolled in Medicaid (December 2000) [PDF]	Steps recommended by the CDC Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention to improve lead screening and follow-up care for young Medicaid beneficiaries.	Health care providers, managed care organizations, state Medicaid agencies, state and local health departments.
State Medicaid Manual, September 1998	Text of lead screening requirements in EPSDT from State Medicaid Manual (September, 1998). Serves as a reference of exact terms of lead screening requirements from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS, formerly HCFA)	Health care providers, managed care organizations, state Medicaid agencies, state and local health departments.
State Medicaid Directors’ Letter (October, 1999)	Summaries evidence for importance of Medicaid lead screening, reiterates screening requirement, and clarifies requirement for environmental investigation for lead poisoned children. Use to underscore the importance of Medicaid lead screening and follow-up care.	Health care providers, managed care organizations, state Medicaid agencies, state and local health departments.
AAP News article (December, 1999)	Statement of American Academy of Pediatrics support for Medicaid lead screening. Use with providers to document leadership's support for Medicaid lead screening.	Health care providers.
Federal Health Programs Are Not Effectively Reaching At-Risk Children" [PDF]	General Accounting Office report titled "Federal Health Programs Are Not Effectively Reaching At-Risk Children" documenting the failure of federal agencies to screen children for lead poisoning	Health care providers, managed care organizations, state Medicaid agencies, state and local health department clinic staff, families.
The Foundations of Better Lead Screening for Children in Medicaid: Data Systems and Collaboration	Case studies on building data systems and collaboration to improve Medicaid lead screening. Use to provide practical how-to information to administrators and staff.	State Medicaid agencies, state and local health departments.