Comprehensiveness of well child checkups for children receiving Medicaid: a pilot study.

Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) is a Medicaid program designed to provide comprehensive well child care for children from low-income families. Each EPSDT checkup should include a physical examination; medical history; assessment of development, nutrition, and immunizations; assessment of hearing, vision, and dental status; and anticipatory guidance. This pilot study of the medical records of 76 children receiving EPSDT checkups in six rural counties in North Carolina provided a preliminary assessment of whether EPSDT checkups included the required components. The study showed that health care providers frequently did not provide adequate documentation of the care provided at the checkup, and it raised questions as to whether children received the required components of the EPSDT checkup.