Making the Most of Medicaid for Your Child

The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit is built into the child Medicaid program to make sure that children receive the right kind of care when they need it. EPSDT places importance on preventative screenings so that medical needs can be identified early.

Under EPSDT, Medicaid must cover all medically necessary services. A medically necessary service can be defined as a service that corrects or improves a condition. Medically necessary services can be performed by a primary care provider or a specialist.