The Senate ’s Health Care Bill Threatens Children’s Access to Vital Services

There was significant public outcry over the possibility of dissolving the Prevention and Public Health Fund and eliminating essential health benefits under the American Health Care Act (AHCA)—both proposals were also included in the Senate’s Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA). Yet the treatment of Medicaid’s Early and Periodic, Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit has received far less attention even though the AHCA and BCRA would make it harder for many children to receive the care they need—including services related to substance misuse and lead poisoning. The BCRA would permit states to convert Medicaid to a block grant for certain populations, including children. States approved for this block grant option would no longer be required to cover the EPSDT, which allows children to receive comprehensive screenings (including for substance use disorders), immunizations, laboratory tests (including blood lead level testing), vital health education, and vision, dental, and hearing services. This benefit was introduced in 1967 when the military began experiencing unusually high draftee rejection rates due to untreated childhood medical issues. EPSDT ensures children have access to the services they need to be healthy and excel at school—and, research demonstrates time and again that healthy kids are better learners. Since EPSDT was created, it has benefited low-income children who are disproportionately affected by obesity, increased blood lead levels,...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - Category: Health Management Authors: Tags: Featured Following the ACA Medicaid and CHIP Public Health Uncategorized EPSDT Trumpcare Source Type: blogs