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Molina Healthcare of Michigan

Molina Healthcare of Michigan developed a pilot program,  Baby Steps Towards

Health,  to increase Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT)

visits for children from birth to age three. Molina s BCAP pilot project goal was to

increase the number of EPSDT visits for children from birth to age three to 80 percent

by linking the member, practitioner, and health plan as well as increasing parent

involvement. Through outreach to members, Molina sought to educate parents about

the importance of well child visits and provide age specific information on what to

expect during each well child visit. The project also included provider education about

EPSDT components, proper documentation, coding, and referral sources for children

with developmental delays. Provider offices were asked to provide a developmental

assessment during the members' regularly scheduled EPSDT visits. The pilot project,

implemented July through December 2003 in Kent County, Michigan, involved 1,537

children from 11 provider offices.  Prior to the  Baby Steps Towards Health  pilot,

Molina's EPSDT rate for children from birth to age three was 46 percent (January  July

2003). The pilot program increased the EPSDT rate for this age group to 76 percent.

IDENTIFICATION 

To improve delivery of EPSDT services and developmental screening, Molina set a goal

to identify all children, from birth to age three, as well as all expectant mothers. Molina

developed an EPSDT database to facilitate identification and began efforts in Kent

County, which was targeted because of its high volume of practitioners and members

(23 percent of Molina's membership) as well as established community resources.

Aim:

1. To identify 100 percent of children in Kent County, from birth to age three, enrolled

in Molina Healthcare of Michigan.

2. To identify 100 percent of expectant mothers in Kent County enrolled in Molina

prior to delivery.

Measure:

1. Children, age 0 3 years, in Kent County, enrolled in Molina Healthcare

All children, age 0 3 years, enrolled in Molina Healthcare

2. # of expectant mothers identified prior to delivery in Kent County, enrolled in 

Molina Healthcare

# of deliveries in Kent County, enrolled in Molina Healthcare

Change:

Molina implemented the following strategies to improve identification of children, from

birth to age three:

Developed an EPSDT database to generate a monthly list of children in need of

EPSDT services. The database generates an age specific list of members by county

and displays the age at which the child's next EPSDT visit is due.

Created a newborn notification form for Utilization Management nurses. This infor 

mation was then forwarded to Molina's Education Department. Newborns were

added to the program after the health plan received their identification number from

the state.

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