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EPSDT

Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) is the federal law that says Medicaid must provide all medically necessary health care services to Medicaid-eligible children. The services are required even if the services are not normally covered by children's Medicaid.

Together, Health Check and EPSDT provide for the complete care of children and youth in Medicaid.

EPSDT Quick Links

What Treatment Services are Covered?

Services must be ordered by the child's physician or another licensed clinician. Prior approval from the Division of Medical Assistance may be required to verify medical necessity for some services.

The services must meet all of the conditions stated below:

  1. The service must be medically necessary to correct or ameliorate a defect, physical or mental illness or a condition that is identified through a screening examination
  2. The service must be listed in section 1905(a) of the Social Security Act.
  3. The service cannot be experimental/investigational, unsafe or considered ineffective.

Requests for Non-Covered Services

If a child's physician or another licensed clinician determines that a child needs a treatment service that is not normally covered by Medicaid, the provider must submit a Non-Covered State Medicaid Plan Services Request Form for Recipients under 21 Years of Age on behalf of the recipient to:

Director
c/o Assistant Director for Clinical Policy and Programs
Division of Medical Assistance
2501 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-2501
Fax: 919-715-7659

A full explanation of the EPSDT policy and how to obtain approval for services can be found in: