Last update: October 16, 2020
Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) services are an important part of preventive care for children. Required EPSDT services for all children, ages 2 to 20, in New Jersey include:
- A comprehensive health and developmental history, including assessments of physical and mental health development and all diagnostic and treatment services that are medically necessary for a physical or mental condition identified during a screening visit
- Anticipatory guidance, including counseling for nutrition and physical activity
- A comprehensive unclothed physical examination, including vision and hearing screenings, dental inspection and nutritional assessment
- Appropriate immunizations according to age, health history and the schedule established by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for pediatric vaccines. Immunizations required by age 2 include:
- Four diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (DTaP)
- Three polio (IPV)
- One measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
- Three haemophilus influenza type B (HiB)
- Three hepatitis B (HepB)
- One chicken pox (VZV)
- Four pneumococcal conjugate (PCV)
- One hepatitis A (HepA)
- Rotavirus series (RV) – 2 doses of Rotarix or 3 doses of RotaTeq
- Two Influenza vaccinations with different dates of service
- Appropriate laboratory tests:
- Lead screening, using blood-lead level determinations, must be done for every Medicaid-eligible and NJ FamilyCare child:
- Between ages 9-18 months of age, preferably at 12 months
- Between ages 18-26 months of age, preferably at 24 months
- For any child between ages 27-72 months who have not yet been tested
- Hemoglobin/hematocrit/EP
- Urinalysis
- Tuberculin test – intradermal, administered annually and when medically indicated
- Additional laboratory tests may be appropriate and medically indicated (e.g., for ova and parasites) and shall be obtained as necessary.
Here’s the EPSDT screening schedule:
- Neonatal exam
- Under six weeks
- Two months
- Four months
- Six months
- Nine months
- 12 months
- 15 months
- 18 months
- 24 months
- Annually through age 20
Dental services are another important part of EPSDT screenings. A referral to a dentist by age 1 or soon after the appearance of the first primary tooth is mandatory. After that, dental visits twice a year are recommended, with follow-up during well-child visits through age 20.