Care For Kids

All Iowa children who are enrolled in Medicaid are automatically enrolled in EPSDT Care for Kids. EPSDT stands for Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment.

The role of EPSDT Care for Kids is to promote the physical, mental, social, emotional and behavioral health of children from birth to age 21. The program emphasizes a regular schedule of health visits and screenings which are free to children enrolled in Medicaid.

Iowa Early & Periodic Screening, Diagnosis & Treatment

EveryStep Can Help

Our staff are available to help you understand your child 's Medicaid health insurance, which covers essential appointments and services. EveryStep serves as a point of contact for Medicaid participants who live in the following counties:
• Polk
• Dallas
• Madison
• Warren
Note, if you are a resident of Kossuth, Winnebago, Hancock, Worth, Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Mitchell, Floyd or Butler counties, click here for a list of local resources. (link to downloadable PDF)

Healthcare

Seeing the same doctor or medical provider is important. It allows a doctor to get to know you and your child so they can identify concerns. They will check for anything that could be a problem and develop a plan of care to address issues or concerns. These recommended checkups from birth to age 21 are called “well-child visits” and are paid for by Medicaid. Click here to view the recommended schedule for well-child visits.

What Will Medicaid Pay For?

• Well-Child visits
• Doctor 's visits for illness, injury or other concerns
• Vision appointments and eyeglasses
Vision screening can start as early as infancy. An appointment with an eye doctor is recommended starting at age 3 unless there are concerns about your child 's vision before then.
• Prescription medications
• Vaccines (also called immunizations or shots)
• Appointments with specialists, including therapy and counseling
• Dental exams
• Transportation to and from Medicaid-covered appointments

Click here to learn more about the types of screenings that will take place at each well-child visit.

Vaccines

Vaccines, also known as immunizations, or shots, are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to ensure your child stays healthy. Vaccines are paid for by Medicaid and can protect people from serious diseases that can harm or kill a baby, child or adult. Please discuss these with your doctor.

Important Links:
Vaccine/Immunization Schedule
CDC Vaccine Information
HPV (Human Papillomavirus) Vaccine
- Learn about the HVP vaccine, which can prevent certain types of cancer.
Influenza Vaccine
- Learn more about vaccines that can protect you and your child from the flu each year.

Lead Poisoning

Lead poisoning is common in our area and has no visible symptoms. It causes developmental delays; therefore, children must be tested at age 1 and again at age 2. If detected, it can be treated. Lead testing is paid for by Medicaid. Click here to learn more about lead poisoning and prevention.

Providers

Iowa Medicaid is provided through Managed Care Organizations, or MCOs. An MCO is a health care company that strives to keep quality of care high and costs low. You should have received an insurance card from your child 's assigned MCO. If you need a doctor for your child, you can find one by searching on your assigned MCO 's website.

MCO Provider Search Tools:
• Wellpoint
• Iowa Total Care
• Molina

Oral Health

It's important that children begin to receive dental care as soon as teeth erupt, making their first dental visit before their first birthday. After that, your child should see their dentist every 6 months. These visits are covered by Medicaid.

Orthodontia, or braces, are covered by Medicaid if your child 's dentist considers them medically necessary.

Medicaid uses two dental insurance carriers. You should have received a card from your child 's dental carrier. If you need a dentist for your child, you can find one by searching on your assigned dental carrier's website below.

Dental Provider Search Tools:
• Delta Dental of Iowa
• MCNA Dental

EveryStep staff can also help connect you with a dentist, or with an EveryStep I-Smile coordinator who can assist with referrals and some preventative services.

What is I-Smile?

The I-Smile program provides oral health screenings, oral health education, nutrition education relating to oral health, fluoride varnish application, and a referral to a dentist for comprehensive dental needs. EveryStep 's I-Smile staff serve children under the age of 21 and pregnant women in Dallas, Madison, Polk counties.

We assist families when they need:
• to find a dental home or dental coverage for their child
• assistance to set up appointments with the dentist or find dentists who accept Medicaid
• help transporting their child to the dental appointment
• translation services regarding their dental care
For more information, call EveryStep 's I-Smile program at (515) 557-9023.

Mental Health

Children and adolescents of any age may experience issues with mental or behavioral health. Your child 's doctor can often help identify problems through careful screening and ongoing surveillance. Early identification is important to make sure your family can be connected with someone before more severe concerns develop.

• Adolescent depression screening should begin at age 12
• Alcohol and drug use screening should begin at age 11

Additional Mental Health Resources

Your Life Iowa
If you or a loved one are facing a problem with alcohol, drugs, gambling, mental health or suicidal thoughts, you 're not alone. That is why the Iowa Department of Public Health has created YourLifeIowa.org so Iowans can chat live, text, or call and get reliable information and treatment options, and find nearby help. Available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.
(855) 581-8111
Text: (855) 895-8398
https://yourlifeiowa.org

Teen Line
Health information and referral service for Iowa teens and those who care about them. Provides free, confidential, personal and health-related information and referrals on topics such as: health/eating/weight, relations with parents or friends, violence, AIDS/HIV, alcohol or drug use, sexual relationships, birth control/pregnancy, stress and sexually transmitted diseases. Available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week. Interpretation available.
800-443-8336
800-735-2942 (TT/TTY)

The Trevor Project
Offers accredited lifesaving, life-affirming programs and services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25. Programs and services create safe, accepting and inclusive environments over the phone, online and through text. Available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week. (866) 488-7386
Text: Text START to 678-678
https://www.thetrevorproject.org

Broadlawns Medical Center – Outpatient Mental Health
Child and adolescent services offer medication management, individual psychotherapy and family therapy to children between the ages of 5 and 18.
(515) 282-5695

Child Guidance Center
The Child Guidance Center is a federally accredited community mental health center for children and serves as a safety net service provider for children battling mental health disorders in Central Iowa.
(515) 244-2267

Iowa EPSDT Mental Health Care

Child Development

Developmental Milestones and Screenings
Children should meet certain “developmental milestones” as they grow and be screened for developmental delays. Skills such as taking a first step, smiling for the first time, and waving “bye bye” are all developmental milestones, or things most children can do by a certain age. Children reach many milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act, and move (crawling, walking, etc.) Developmental monitoring and screening are ways to look for your child 's developmental milestones.

Screenings should take place at 9 months, 18 months, and 24 or 30 months. These can be performed by a healthcare provider, early childhood teacher, or other trained provider.

Developmental Monitoring
As a parent, grandparent or caregiver, it's important that YOU watch for a child 's developmental milestones from birth to 5 years. Celebrate your child 's development and talk about your child 's progress with doctors and childcare providers. They can help you learn what to expect next and identify any concerns early.

Click here to view a checklist of milestones

Iowa Family Support Network (IFSN)
IFSN provides resources for children aged birth to 5 years. Families and professionals can make referrals and obtain information about child development, family support services, and Early ACCESS. Other community- and group-based services across Iowa are also available.

1-888-IAKIDS1 (1-888-425-4371)
www.iafamilysupportnetwork.org

Other Community Resources

Contact EveryStep for information on local community resources. We can help you connect with services for things like food, clothing, housing, financial assistance, and more.
(515) 283-1422 or (877) 540-1422

Additional Resources
• Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral (CC&R)

- CCR&R provides free assistance in locating childcare to meet the needs of a family and their children.
(855) 244-5301
www.Iowaccrr.org
• Iowa Child Care Connect
• UnityPoint Health Community Resource Guide (Together We Care)
• United Way 211 Referral Service

Appeals

Click here to learn more about filing an appeal if you disagree with a decision made by Iowa HHS.