Few Children in Medicaid Tested for Lead Poisoning As Required, CMS Official Tells Senate Panel

Although Medicaid rules require that enrolled children receive a blood screening test for lead, only about 20%, or 1.3 million, of children under age six enrolled in the program are tested, CMS Deputy Administrator Ruben King-Shaw told the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Housing and Transportation Subcommittee on June 5, the AP/South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports. Based on a recommendation by the CDC, which estimates up to 750,000 of all children have elevated blood lead levels, Medicaid rules require that children be screened for lead poisoning at 12 months and two years of age. Also, any child ages two to six who does not have a record of being tested must be screened. Medicaid pays for the screenings, as well as any diagnostic or treatment services for children diagnosed with lead poisoning. Because the program has "few powers" to enforce the rule, officials have had problems collecting data and ensuring the tests are performed, King-Shaw said. One way to enforce the rule would be to withhold Medicaid payments from states that fail to comply with the rule. But King-Shaw said, "I don't know that people want to see that as an enforcement measure." Instead, the agency is conducting outreach and education campaigns to improve screening rates, the AP/Sun-Sentinel reports. Subcommittee Chair Jack Reed (D-R.I.) asked King-Shaw to make recommendations to Congress on how changes in Medicaid law could help CMS enforce the rule (Robinson, AP/South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 6/5).