Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #119458

Molly McNulty, JD, McNulty Consulting, 57 Willard Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620-3131, 585-244-5261, mcnulty@rochester.rr.com

Overview: Medicaid's EPSDT provisions have been a primary policy tool to achieve the goal of improving child health. Continuous re-formulations of EPSDT policy since that time have been based upon a medley of myth, values, and facts. The parallel development of EPSDT research, however, has rarely factored this interplay in evaluating effectiveness. Research Objective and Design: The objective of this paper is to describe the role of evidence used in the Medicaid EPSDT policymaking cycle from 1971 – 2004; input evidence to justify EPSDT law and policy changes, and output evidence of EPSDT effectiveness at reducing uninsurance, improving quality and content of pediatric primary and preventive care, and buffering safety net providers from evaluations of coverage, utilization, and reimbursement. This is a mixed-method qualitative research design, combining meta-analysis of EPSDT effectiveness research, written surveys, content analysis of documents, and legal analysis. Preliminary findings and conclusions: EPSDT has improved insurance coverage, quality of care, use of preventive services, and fiscal viability of public health and other safety net providers. In contrast to many other policy domains, medical and scientific research unequivocally supports the success of this program.

Learning Objectives:

• - Describe the role of evidence used in the Medicaid EPSDT policymaking cycle from 1971 – 2004.
• - Summarize a mixed-method qualitative research design, combining meta-analysis of EPSDT research, surveys, documents, and legal analysis.
• - Discuss how EPSDT has improved insurance coverage, quality of care, use of preventive services, and fiscal viability of public health and other safety net providers.

Keywords: Children's Health, Medicaid

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation