The number of children on Medicaid receiving at least one preventive exam a year increased to 63 percent in 2013, up from 56 percent in 2006. However, HHS’ Office of the Inspector General’s goal is for 80 percent of children on Medicaid to receive at least one exam per year, and that goal is not being met in the vast majority of states.
According to an OIG report, only two states have met its goal. Iowa reported 81 percent of children on Medicaid have received at least one annual screening exam last year, and California reported 100 percent of children received an exam in 2013.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, two states — Alaska and Ohio — reported fewer than 40 percent of children received an exam in 2013, according to the report.
A shortage of physicians treating Medicaid patients, low pay from states for providers who do treat Medicaid patients, parents’ lack of education on the importance of the checkups, and issues with data collection have all been cited as contributing factors to the low participation rates.
The recent OIG report applauded CMS for increasing the screening rates by distributing guides that enable states and providers to share their best ideas but demanded more be done to encourage providers to complete all five components of medical screenings, which are a physical exam, medical history, immunizations, lab tests and education.
CMS has not commented on the OIG report.
More articles on quality:
M.D. Anderson physicians largely unsatisfied with patient safety improvement
2014 Baldrige Quality Award recipients named: 5 things to know
48 hospitals with lowest mortality rates from heart attacks
