Early & Periodic Screening, Diagnostic & Treatment (EPSDT): What Health & Child Advocates Need to Know About This Medicaid Benefit - Promising Futures

For kids who have experienced violence and trauma, access to health care services can be essential and even lifesaving, and early intervention and connection to supportive services are key pieces of that healthy start. Medicaid offers a compre-hensive health insurance package that is designed to meet each child’s physical, mental, and behavioral health needs. One of the most important parts of this program is known as Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT), which is a benefit that guarantees children and adolescents get the care they need, when they need it, including mental and behavioral health services. Despite recent cuts to Medicaid in the large tax and spending legislation passed this summer, children are still entitled to the EPSDT benefit.