Medicaid EPSDT Litigation Trends

Executive Summary

Legal Director Jane Perkins explores litigation involving Medicaid’s Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) program. Perkins provides a brief overview of EPSDT — for example the foundation of the program requires mandatory screenings for children and youth under 21. The medical screens are: vision, hearing, dental, and medical. Perkins concludes, “the subject matter of EPSDT litigation has shifted over time, with the current emphasis on protecting children’s access to home and community-based treatment services.”