Diverse Approaches to EPSDT

Use of EPSDT to provide services to Medicaid-eligible CYSHCN varies widely across the country. Some states, particularly those with relatively limited state plan ben­efits, are very proactive in using EPSDT as a vehicle for providing the less common services required by many CYSHCN. The examples below illustrate how a few states use EPSDT:

• In California, the Department of Mental Health uses EPSDT to provide therapeutic behavioral health services, including one-to-one services, for children with serious emotional disturbance;

• Colorado covers care coordination for CYSHCN through EPSDT, and provides outreach and education to physicians about how to use EPSDT to support medical homes for CYSHCN;

• Iowa developed a state plan amendment to use EPSDT to pay for private duty nursing, personal care, medical equipment, and specialty dental care.