Fall 2020
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, even low levels of lead in a child’s blood has shown to affect IQ, the ability to pay attention, and academic achievement. The good news is that these adverse effects of childhood lead poisoning are 100% preventable.
“Lead Screening among Children” is a Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) measure defined as, “children two years of age who had at least one capillary or venous blood test for lead poisoning on or before their second birthday*.” Data for Lead Screening is obtained from Neighborhood’s claims database, the Rhode Island Department of Health’s KIDSNET database, and medical record review. Neighborhood’s 2019 Lead Screening rate stood at 79.35% after being close to 85% as recently as 2015. This measure reveals an opportunity for improvement and you can help.
How you can help!
- Inform members of Neighborhood’s Member Rewards (i.e.; $25 gift card) for completing lead screening by their second birthday. Members are also eligible to receive additional rewards for well visits and immunizations. Please view the link below for more information and a copy of the Member Rewards Form https://www.nhpri.org/your-health/resources/rewards/.
- Take advantage of every office visit (e.g., sick visits) to provide well care components when applicable.
- Use Gap in Care Reports provided by Neighborhood to help identify children who are approaching their second birthday and have not had a blood test for lead poisoning.
- Provide in-office capillary or venous testing at least once by the patient’s second birthday.
- Re-screen patients with blood lead levels greater than or equal to 5 mcg/dL. within 90 days of an elevated blood lead level result.
- Document in the patient’s medical record the date the test was performed and result/finding.
- Code appropriately and timely using CPT Code: 83655.
*Please note that Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) has more stringent lead screening guidelines required by law. If a child is compliant with RIDOH screening guidelines, the HEDIS measure will also be met. For additional information regarding lead screening requirements, please visit: http://www.health.ri.gov/healthrisks/poisoning/lead/for/providers/
HEDIS® is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).