The early and periodic screening, diagnosis and treatment program: opportunities for nurse practitioners

The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) Program is intended to provide comprehensive preventive health care services for children and young adults from low-income families on Medicaid. Unfortunately, only a fraction of the individuals eligible for care actually receive EPSDT services, often because of a shortage of providers who offer these services. Nurse practitioners are ideally suited to offer such services and, in states where they are allowed to function independently, can receive direct Medicaid reimbursement for them. Because many nurse practitioners are unfamiliar with the EPSDT program, this article describes the key components of the program and explains how nurse practitioners can provide EPSDT services.