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20-953 Is Your Screening of Young Children's Blood Lead Levels Compliant?
Act
immediately
Effective date
Not stated in the notice
Identified
Jun 20, 2026
Summary
Health Net Medi-Cal requires blood lead screening tests for children 6 months to 6 years during periodic health assessments, with mandatory documentation of parental refusals. Providers must use specific billing codes and report results to California's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch.
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What to do
immediately · 3 steps
01Billing team must ensure CPT 83655 and ICD-10 Z13.88 are available for blood lead screening.
02Providers must document parental refusals with signed statements or reasons for not obtaining signatures in medical records.
03Clinical staff must add reminders to EMR templates for required lead screenings at 12 and 24 months, and guidance provision at each PHA from 6-72 months.
Codes mentioned
83655Z13.88
Original notice
20-953 Is Your Screening of Young Children's Blood Lead Levels Compliant?
providerlibrary.healthnetcalifornia.com · Always check the source before changing claims.
Related changes
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