Children's Health
Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis Treatment (EPSDT)
Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) are preventive care for children under the age of 21. These are also called well-child checkups. Doctor visits when your child is well helps make sure they are growing, healthy, and safe. EPSDT is key to ensuring that children and young adults receive preventive, dental, mental health, developmental, and specialty services.
EARLY: Treat problems soon.
PERIODIC: Set up regular appointments.
SCREENING: Check for a medical problem.
DIAGNOSIS: Find a medical problem.
TREATMENT: Care for a problem.
Why are EPSDT screenings important?
Well-child checkups are important for your child’s health. Your child can look and feel well but still have a health problem. During your child’s appointment, their PCP will check:
- Growth
- Development
- Learning
- Ears and eyes
- Diet
- Immunizations
- Test records
Set up well-child visits when your child is:
- 3‑5 days old
- 1 month old
- 2 months old
- 4 months old
- 6 months old
- 9 months old
- 12 months old
- 15 months old
- 18 months old
- 24 months old
- 30 months old
- Annually through age 20
All children should be tested for lead poisoning with a blood test before they are two years old. You or your children may look healthy. But you can still have high levels of lead in your blood. The only way to know for sure is to have a blood test done by a healthcare provider.
Lead hurts kids:
- Sometimes you may not notice any signs of lead poisoning in children.
- Behavior, learning, and sleep problems may be caused by lead.
- Other signs: clumsiness, weakness, headaches, and hearing problems. It can also cause slow growth, stomach problems, seizures, and coma.
Children on Medicaid must have lead screening tests. Do this at 12 months old and 24 months old. Any child between the ages of 24 and 72 months without a previous lead screening must also be tested.
Immunizations are one of the best ways to protect against diseases. Immunization-preventable diseases can be very serious, may require hospitalization, or even be deadly. They are extremely important for all children, babies through adolescence.
Child and Adolescent Recommended Immunization Schedule
| Age | Immunizations |
|---|---|
| Birth | Hep B, RSV |
| 1 month | Hep B, RSV |
| 2 months | DTap, Hib, IPV, PCV, Rota |
| 4 months | DTaP, Hib, IPV, PCV, Rota |
| 6 months | Hep B, DTaP, Hib, IPV, PCV, Influenza, Covid-19, Rota |
| 8-19 months | RSV (one seasonal dose) |
| 12 months | Hib, PCV, MMR, VAR, Hep A Series |
| 15 months | DTaP |
| 4-6 years | DTaP, IPV, MMR, VAR |
| 9-11 years | HPV (2 doses) |
| 11-12 years | Tdap or Td, MCV |
| 13-18 years | Tdap or Td, MCV, HPV series (catch-up) |
| Every year | Influenza (after 6 months) |
Both types of visits are important. They have different purposes. A sports physical checks your child's ability to participate safely in sports. A sports physical should not replace a well-child checkup. An annual well-child checkup provides a wider exam of total health, growth and development. If your child has not had a well-child checkup call the PCP to schedule a visit.
Annual well-child checkups
- Looks at a child's total health and growth
- Medical history review, vital signs, physical exam, and sometimes lab tests
- Complete once a year to help detect diseases early
- Helps find health issues, check risk for certain conditions, and make lifestyle choices
Sports physical
- Determines if a child is healthy enough to participate in sports
- Measure weight, height, vision, hearing, blood pressure, muscle and bone health, strength, and flexibility
- May be required for schools or sports teams
- Can be completed during an annual well-child checkup
Dental care is also important for children. Children on Nebraska Medicaid have dental coverage. Children need fluoride treatments as well as annual checkups. Learn more about the dental benefits.
Looking for a Medicaid Dentist?
Children With Special Needs
Dental care can be confusing for children with special needs. These children can have extra “practice” visits. It may help them feel more comfortable before the dentist does any work. If your child needs a practice visit talk to your dentist. Any dentist can give this service.
What is hepatitis in children?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. It can damage and destroy liver cells.
Key points about hepatitis in children – What Parents Can Do
Hearing about severe liver disease in children can be concerning. If you have any questions about your child’s health, call your child’s healthcare provider.
- Hepatitis in children can be caused by many things. Your child can get hepatitis by being exposed to a virus that causes it.
- There are 5 main types of the hepatitis virus: A, B, C, D, and E.
- The most common symptoms of hepatitis include a yellowish color to the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice) and flu-like symptoms.
- Be aware of the symptoms of liver inflammation, which include:
- fever
- fatigue
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- vomiting
- abdominal pain
- dark urine
- light-colored stools (poop)
- joint pain
- jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
- Some children do not have any symptoms.
- Keep children up to date on all their vaccinations.
- Having good hygiene can prevent hepatitis.
- washing hands often,
- avoiding people who are sick,
- covering coughs and sneezes, and
- teaching them to avoid touching the eyes, nose, or mouth