Behavioral Health Screening Policies in Medicaid Programs Nationwide

• Published in: Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.) Vol. 54; no. 5; pp. 736 - 739
• Main Authors: Semansky, Rafael M, Koyanagi, Chris, Vandivort-Warren, Rita
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Psychiatric Publishing 01.05.2003; American Psychiatric Association
• Subjects: Adolescent; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child Behavior Disorders - diagnosis; Child Health Services - standards; Child, Preschool; Humans; Infant; Mass Screening - psychology; Medicaid - standards; Medical sciences; Mental Disorders - diagnosis; Mental health; Organization of mental health. Health systems; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Social psychiatry. Ethnopsychiatry; Substance-Related Disorders - diagnosis; United States; United States; North America; America; Human; Health insurance; Sanitary program; Health policy; Mental health; Medical screening; Public health; Behavioral disorder
• ISSN: 1075-2730; 1557-9700
• DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.54.5.736

Under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) mandate, states are required to screen Medicaid-insured children for mental health and substance use disorders. This national study found that states vary considerably in their policies. Nearly half the states (23 in total) have not addressed behavioral health issues in their EPSDT screening tools at all. More states have screening tools that address mental health than substance use disorders. Most states have created their own screening tools, which suggests discomfort with or a lack of awareness of the standard tools available. Screening policy options to increase behavioral health screening rates are discussed.