ACYF Administration on Children, Youth and Families	U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children and Families
	1. Log No. ACYF-IM-HS-95-24	2. Issuance Date: 06/06/95
	3. Originating Office: Head Start Bureau
	4. Key Word: EPSDT Guide

INFORMATION MEMORANDUM

TO: All Head Start Grantees and Delegate Agencies

SUBJECT: EPSDT Guide

INFORMATION:

Attached is a publication entitled EPSDT: A Guide for Head Start Programs. This guide was jointly developed by the Head Start and Medicaid Bureaus, and provides an overview of Medicaid's health program for children, the Early and Periodic, Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) program. The information in the guide will assist Head Start programs as they develop or expand strategies to strengthen linkages with local and/or State Medicaid agencies.

In Appendices A and B, a list of Regional and State Medicaid contacts is presented. Programs are strongly encouraged to get in touch with these individuals for further information about their State's Medicaid program.

/S/
Helen H. Taylor, Associate Commissioner
Head Start Bureau

Attachment

cc: Regional Administrators, Regions I-X
American Indian and Migrant Programs Branch

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A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD START BUREAU AND THE MEDICAID BUREAU

Head Start and Medicaid have a long history of working together to ensure that the health care needs of low income children and families are being met. Today, in this time of limited resources and expanding needs, it is more important than ever that local, State, and Federal programs join forces in order to better serve their target populations.

This guide presents an overview of Medicaid's health program for children: the Early and Periodic, Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) program. Its purpose is to provide general information about ways Head Start programs can access preventive and treatment services for their Medicaid-eligible children.

The guide does not have all the answers. However, it is intended to be used as a starting point for local, State and Regional programs as they develop or expand strategies for conducting EPSDT outreach and providing health services. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with the contact people who are listed in the text and its attachments. They can help you navigate the system by providing you with information on your State's program policy. Additionally, they may offer information on creative effective practices which can be useful.

We hope this guide will contribute to a fruitful dialogue in the interests of improving the health and well-being of children and families who need assistance the most.

Thank you so much for your help in this endeavor.

/S/
Sally K. Richardson
Director
Medicaid Bureau
Health Care Financing
Administration

/S/
Helen Taylor
Associate Commissioner
Head Start Bureau
Administration for Children
Families