GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES NEW YORK MEDICAID TO REIMBURSE FOR BLOOD LEAD TESTING IN CHILDREN
Will Help to Ensure More Children are Tested
$2.5 Million Increase in Funding to Fight Lead Poisoning included in the 2009-10 Budget
Governor David A. Paterson today announced that he has directed the Department of Health (DOH) to begin to reimburse New York physician offices and clinics that conduct onsite lead testing in children and pregnant women using new lead testing technology. The New York State Medicaid program will provide the reimbursements as of September 1, 2009, for outpatient lead testing in children under the age of six and pregnant women.
This direction is part of Governor Paterson’s ongoing efforts to eradicate lead poisoning. Earlier this month, he created the Governor’s Task Force on the Prevention of Childhood Lead Poisoning.
“Lead poisoning can have severe and irreversible consequences for childhood growth and development. It is imperative that all New York children have access to lead testing so that they can receive immediate medical treatment if they need it,” said Governor Paterson. “Eliminating an extra visit to a laboratory for lead testing and reimbursing physicians and clinics who offer this onsite service is one critical step towards ending this scourge.”
Although Medicaid currently provides reimbursement for lead testing conducted at permitted clinical laboratories across the State, this is the first time the Medicaid program will directly reimburse health care providers and clinics that conduct lead testing within the practice setting by use of “point of care” testing technology. The portable lead testing machine allows health care providers to collect and analyze blood samples onsite. Under this new policy, Medicaid reimbursement will be expanded to include licensed practitioners operating Physician Office Laboratories and clinics that operate Limited Service Laboratories registered for blood lead analysis.
State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D. said: “Under Governor Paterson’s leadership, New York State has made significant progress in the prevention of childhood lead poisoning. Through the Governor’s support, the Department of Health has changed policies and regulations to allow the use of portable lead testing machines in New York as well as in physician offices and clinics. To support this testing, Medicaid will reimburse for this service, ensuring higher rates of lead testing in children and pregnant women.”
Earlier this month, Governor Paterson issued Executive Order No. 21 to establish the Governor’s Task Force on the Prevention of Childhood Lead Poisoning to further the State’s efforts to eliminate childhood lead poisoning in New York State. The creation of the Task Force, together with the dedication of additional funding to support targeted prevention efforts, demonstrates the Governor’s continued commitment to forever eliminate childhood lead poisoning in the State. While screening and testing children for lead poisoning and then providing treatment to those with elevated blood lead levels will continue to be vital components of the State’s public health efforts, Governor Paterson’s new Task Force will advance an even more aggressive prevention strategy.
Childhood lead poisoning remains a serious public health problem in New York State. In 2007, nearly 3,600 of New York’s children under the age of six were diagnosed with lead poisoning. Most homes built before 1978 have lead-based paint, when paint peels, cracks, or is worn down, the chips and dust from the old lead paint can spread onto floors, windowsills and all around the home. Lead-based paint dust can then get onto children’s hands and toys, and into their mouths. Routine blood testing of young children and pregnant women is essential to assure early identification and coordination of follow-up services to prevent further exposure.
The New York State Public Health Law requires all health care providers to test all children for blood lead levels at age 1 and again at age 2. In addition, health care providers are also required to evaluate all children 6 months to 6 years of age each year, as well as women who are pregnant, for risk of lead exposure as part of routine care. Health care providers also are required to test those children and pregnant women found to be at risk for lead exposure. Federal requirements for children on Medicaid also require blood lead testing of all children ages one and two years old, and for three to six year olds who previously have not been tested for lead.
Over the last two years, the Childhood Lead Poisoning Primary Prevention Pilot Program has been implemented, allowing the State, for the first time, to target lead poisoning primary prevention activities to communities where children face the greatest risk of exposure to lead-based paint. The program was first implemented as a pilot in eight target communities in Albany, Erie, Monroe, Oneida, Onondaga, Orange, and Westchester counties and in New York City. This year, the program began operating in Schenectady, Dutchess, Broome, and Chautauqua counties and is now a permanent program.
The Governor’s Executive Budget for 2009-10 proposed additional funding for the program, and the enacted budget included an additional $2.5 million. This brings the State’s total investment for childhood lead poisoning prevention to $15.6 million over a three-year period. With these additional funds, the State will further expand primary prevention efforts to include communities in counties that collectively account for 90 percent of childhood lead poisoning cases.
In addition, the Governor has taken further actions to address childhood lead poisoning: