Step Into a Healthy Future With Texas Health Steps!
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Checkups and a
Whole Lot More!
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The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) service
is Medicaid's comprehensive and preventive child health service for children
from birth through 20 years old. In Texas, EPSDT is known as Texas Health
Steps (THSteps). EPSDT was defined by federal law as part of the Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 and includes periodic medical and dental
screening and treatment services, and vision and hearing screening and
services. In addition, section 1905(r)(5) of the Social Security Act requires
that any medically necessary healthcare service listed in the Act be provided
to THSteps (EPSDT) clients even if the service is not available under
the State's Medicaid plan to the rest of the Medicaid population. These
additional services are available through the Comprehensive Care Program
(CCP).
The EPSDT program consist of two mutually supportive, operational components:
- Assuring the availability and accessibility of required health care
resources, and
- Helping Medicaid clients and their parents or guardians effectively
use these resources.
These components enable THSteps to manage its comprehensive child health
program of prevention and treatment by:
- Seeking out clients and informing them of the benefits of prevention
and the health services and assistance available,
- Helping clients and their families effectively and efficiently use
these health resources, including using their own talents and knowledge,
- Enabling clients to seek assessment of their child's health needs
through initial and periodic examinations and evaluations by a pool
of qualified providers, and
- Assuring that the health problems found are diagnosed and treated
early, before they become more complex.
Mission
Texas Health Steps, a program focusing on the medical, dental,
and case management
services for those aged 0 through 20 years, is dedicated to:
- Expanding client awareness of existing health, dental,
and case
management services, and
- Recruiting and retaining a qualified provider pool to assure the availability
of comprehensive preventive health, dental, and case management services.
Expanding Client Awareness of Existing Health, Dental,
and Case
Management Services
Through outreach and informing efforts, THSteps expands client awareness
of existing health, dental,
and case management
services. If your child is enrolled in Medicaid and is under 21 years
old, call a THSteps Outreach Counselor to learn more about THSteps. Outreach
Counselors are ready to help you Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00
p.m., Central Standard Time, at:
1-877-THSTEPS or 1-877-847-8377
TDD 1-800-735-2988
(The call is free!)
Recruiting And Retaining a Qualified Provider Pool
Medical, dental, case
management, and other providers are the cornerstone to making sure
the young people of Texas receive THSteps services on an early and regular
basis. The THSteps Program is committed to recruiting and retaining qualified
providers to assure comprehensive preventive health and dental services
are available. Providers performing medical services who wish to be eligible
for reimbursement for providing Medicaid and THSteps services must enroll
in these programs through the Texas
Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership.
E-mail the Texas Health Steps Program.
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