Newsletter Vol. 4, No. 26

Immediately: Providers must cease using EP test for lead screening and transition to blood lead level determination testing for all Medicaid-eligible children ages 6 months to 6 years. Billing team must update encounter forms and clinical workflows to: (1) Ensure providers conduct verbal lead risk assessment using the New Jersey Department of Health's Lead Risk Assessment Questionnaire at each visit for children 6 months to 6 years of age; (2) Implement mandatory blood lead testing at 6-12 months, 2 years, and annually through age 6 for all children regardless of risk status; (3) For high-risk children (any positive response to risk assessment questions), obtain blood lead level test immediately at time of risk determination; (4) Ensure capillary samples with results ≥10 µg/dL are confirmed with venous blood samples. Update billing system to ensure claims reflect appropriate blood lead level determination codes rather than EP test codes. Refer children under 5 years of age to WIC programs for nutritional assessment. Failure to comply will result in Medicaid claim denials and potential compliance violations.