SB 1466: Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Program: trauma screening.

Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services, including early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment for any individual under 21 years of age who is covered under Medi-Cal consistent with the requirements under federal law. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions.

Existing federal law provides that EPSDT services include periodic screening services, vision services, dental services, hearing services, and other necessary services to correct or ameliorate defects and physical and mental illnesses and conditions discovered by the screening services, whether or not the services are covered under the state plan. In addition to the required periodic screening services, existing federal law provides that Medicaid-eligible children are entitled to interperiodic screenings in order to identify a suspected illness or condition not present or discovered during the periodic examination.

The bill would require, consistent with federal law, that screening services under the EPSDT program include screening for trauma, as defined by the bill and as specified. The bill also would require the department, in consultation with the State Department of Social Services and others, to adopt, employ, and develop, as appropriate, tools and protocols for screening children for trauma and would authorize the department to implement, interpret, or make specific the screening tools and protocols by means of all-county letters, plan letters, or plan or provider bulletins, as specified.