Medicaid program; early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment (EPSDT) program--HCFA. Proposed rule

This proposal would modify present regulations to conform to recent legislative changes enacted by section 2181 of Pub. L. 97-35, the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981. That section eliminates the penalty which reduces by one percent Federal funds for a States's Title IV-A program, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), for any quarter during which a State fails to: (1) inform all AFDC families of the availability of early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment EPSDT services; (2) provide or arrange for requested screening services; and (3) arrange for corrective treatment of health problems found. In addition, section 2181 mandates that States incorporate these three requirements into their State Medicaid plan with respect to all EPSDT eligibles. Further, this proposed rule would modify current Medicaid EPSDT regulations to reflect Congressional intent that States should continue to develop fully effective EPSDT programs; however, current requirements which entail a large volume of paperwork should be significantly streamlined.