The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has recently mailed provider education materials about lead poisoning to Medicaid providers who serve young children. These mailings are dated October 10, 2012 and include a cover letter from IDPH, a poster and information about the Illinois Health Connect Bonus Payment for High Performance, which has a bonus measure for lead screening.
As Illinois has the highest incidence of lead poisoning of children in the nation, IDPH wants to remind providers that federal mandates and Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) policy recommend that all children who receive All Kids benefits from HFS be considered at risk for lead poisoning. Children should be screened prior to 12 months of age and again prior to 24 months. All children enrolled in HFS medical programs are expected to be screened for lead poisoning regardless of where they live.
The 2012 IHC bonus measure for lead screening has a benchmark of 72.2 percent of children who have had at least one capillary or venous lead screening prior to age 24 months.
For more information, education materials about lead screening or to schedule an in-service training, contact IDPH at 217-782-3517. For specific questions about IHC bonus measure, contact an IHC Quality Assurance Nurse or the IHC Provider Services Help Desk at 877-912-1999, extension 3.
