EPSDT Care for Kids Newsletter

EPSDT Care for Kids Newsletter

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Thank You for All You've Done!
EPSDT Care for Kids, FY 1997
Sally Nadolsky, EPSDT Specialist,
Division for Medical Services, Iowa Department of Human Services.
Fall 1998

According to a recently released Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) report, a total of 91,095 Iowa youngsters received care through EPSDT services in 1997, an increase of more than 5,000 children over 1996.

Rates of use varied by age (see chart below). Overall utilization rates increased from 65 percent to 81 percent among children between the ages of one and 5 years. Participation rates for children between the ages of 6 and 14 years dropped from 85 percent to 74 percent, and DHS will be looking for ways to increase utilization by these children.

Percent of eligible children who participate in Iowa EPSDT Care for Kids program
Age Group	1997	1996	1995	Increase over 1995
Birth to 1 year	84%	89%	80%	+ 4%.
1 to 5 years	81%	65%	48%	+ 33%.
6 to 14 years	74%	85%	49%	+ 25%.
15 to 20 years	125%*	158%*	85%	+ 40%.
% of eligible children who took part	84%	83%	57%	+ 24%.
*Some percentages are above 100% due to more frequent screens than outlined in the EPSDT Care for Kids periodicity schedule.

Nine years ago, in 1989, only 9% of all Iowa children who were eligible for the EPSDT program actually used its services. This past year, thanks to the hard work of all of you who serve Iowa's families, 84% of all eligible Iowa children participated in EPSDT Care for Kids services.

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