Screening Tools
Screening Tools Consultation
Program
Beginning December 2007, MassHealth has required primary care physicians to use MassHealth-approved screening tools to screen children under 21 for behavioral health issues. This mandate is a result of an EPSDT (Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment) lawsuit against the state.In response to the new MassHealth mandate, MCPAP teams have been, and continue to be, available to help primary care physicians utilize standardized behavioral health screening tools in their practices.
Primary care practices may call their regional MCPAP teams to receive this help.
For questions about managing positive screens, including appropriate diagnosis, follow-up, and availability of behavioral health resources for referral, your regular MCPAP team is ready to assist you with all clinical questions that might arise from performing a screen. A call about a screening result made to your regular MCPAP team, during our regular business hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. should be answered within 30 minutes.
Links
For more information about the child behavioral health screening tool mandate, visit the Executive Office of Health and Human services web pages on the Child Behavioral Health Initiative by clicking here.The Center for Public Representation represented the plaintiffs in the EPSDT lawsuit. To view the Center for Public Representation's web site regarding the Child Behavioral Health Initiative, please click here.