EPSDT is Essential

Executive Summary

National Health Law Program Legal Director Jane Perkins in this Issue Brief provides information about Medicaid’s pediatric standards of coverage of youth under 21 called Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT). Perkins notes that “EPSDT is specifically targeted to meet the needs of low-income children. Low-income children are disproportionately affected by numerous health problems — vision, hearing and speech problems; obesity; untreated tooth decay; elevated lead blood levels; asthma; behavioral health problems; trauma; and anxiety.”