Blood Lead Screening Tests, Followup Services, and Treatment for Medicaid-Enrolled Children

There is no safe level of lead exposure for children. In the absence of timely screening, followup services, and treatment, children remain vulnerable to cognitive deficiencies associated with lead exposure. Medicaid-enrolled children are required to receive blood lead screenings. Under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment program, children are also entitled to receive followup services and treatment for conditions identified through screenings (e.g., elevated blood lead levels (EBLLs). Although previous OIG reports identified low rates of lead screenings, an evaluation of followup services for Medicaid-enrolled children with EBLLs has not been done. We will identify the percentage of children under 26 months of age who (1) received required blood lead screenings, (2) had EBLLs, and (3) received needed followup services and treatment. Additionally, we will determine why children with EBLLs did not receive screening, followup services, and treatment and the extent to which the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services provided guidance and technical assistance to States.

Announced or Revised	Agency	Title	Component	Report Number(s)	Expected Issue Date (FY)
Completed	Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services	Blood Lead Screening Tests, Followup Services, and Treatment for Medicaid-Enrolled Children	Office of Evaluation and Inspections	OEI-07-18-00370	2023