School readiness among children insured by Medicaid, South Carolina

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Public Health
• Early Childhood Education

Background:

• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends well-child visits for optimal child development.
• Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) are crucial for Medicaid-insured children.
• Recommended EPSDT schedules aim to foster physical, emotional, and cognitive health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between adherence to recommended Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) visit schedules in the first two years of life and school readiness.
• To determine if children insured by Medicaid with adequate early healthcare visits are more likely to be prepared for school.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 21,998 Medicaid-insured children born in South Carolina between 2000-2002 was analyzed.
• Data included the number of Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) visits within the first two years and kindergarten school readiness assessments.
• Logistic regression was employed to assess the adjusted association between visit frequency and school readiness, controlling for confounding factors.

Main Results:

• Children who completed the recommended Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) visits demonstrated 23% higher adjusted odds of being school-ready.
• This finding suggests a significant positive correlation between consistent early healthcare engagement and educational preparedness.

Conclusions:

• Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) services appear to play a role in enhancing school readiness for Medicaid-enrolled children.
• Targeted school readiness programs may be beneficial for children who do not complete the recommended EPSDT visit schedule.