Collaboration Between Iowa’s MCH and Medicaid Programs Gretchen Hageman Iowa Department of Public Health

Iowa’s EPSDT Care for Kids Program DHS and DPH started program 12 years ago

Iowa’s Relationship at the Departmental Level Formal interagency agreement between DHS and DPH is reviewed and revised each year Medicaid program at DHS pays DPH to manage statewide informing and care coordination DPH provides an extensive report each year to DPH summarizing activities and successes

Iowa’s Relationship at the Program Level  DPH program management staff communicates regularly with DHS staff  EPSDT Team meets monthly with representatives from DPH and DHS  DPH provides resources to local MCH agencies to accomplish informing and care coordination

Iowa’s Relationship at the Local Level  Local MCH agencies follow guidelines published in DHS Medicaid Provider Manual and DPH Informing and Care Coordination Handbook  DPH is responsible for on-going training and support for the local MCH agencies for EPSDT activities  Local MCH agencies are able to obtain Medicaid reimbursement for EPSDT activities

Purpose of Iowa’s Technical Assistance  Catalyze action to improve child health policy  Integrate early childhood system development  Energize local MCH agencies to build upon the EPSDT program at the local level and build public-private relationships

Iowa’s Priorities  Work together to support universal child health coverage Language in the 2007 General Assembly to expand SCHIP eligibility based on federal authorization. IDPH and other partners are working with legislators and federal partners

Iowa’s Priorities  The role and capacity of the EPSDT local care coordinators should be strengthened 2006 EPDST Spring Conference provided technical assistance from Kay Johnson on expanding the capacity and the role of building public-private relationships Integration of 1 st Five – Healthy Mental Development into local Child Health Agencies I-Smile – Dental Home  Dental home for every child in Iowa by June 2008

Iowa’s Priorities  Educating policy makers about the importance of early childhood preventive and developmental services Child and Family Policy Center –Health Coalition Off to a Good Start Health Policy meeting Early Childhood Iowa Congress Early Childhood Day on the Hill Interim Legislative Committees

Iowa’s Priorities  Create new model for financing well- child visits IDPH and other partners are working to define medical home and criteria for pay for performance levels Key Stakeholders  Iowa Chapter of the AAP  Iowa Chapter of the AAFP  Legislators  Iowa Nebraska Primary Care Association

Benefits of the Technical Assistance  National experts  Creditability of local MCH agencies and everyone participated  State managers have been able to continue to draw local MCH agencies into participatory events  Leaders developed priorities and are moving forward on priorities  Health Coalition