DHS' Medicaid Program Receives Funding to Improve Children's Health Care
For Immediate Release:
February 6, 2007
For Information, Contact:
Suzanne Esterman, (609) 292-3703
$1.5 million federal grant will aid screening, diagnosis and treatment
TRENTON — Acting Commissioner Jennifer Velez announced today that the Department of Human Services will receive a $1.5 million federal grant to develop a web-based information system to track children's health care.The department will use the $1,516,900 grant, from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, for a system to help providers identify areas where Medicaid clients under 21 years old need follow-up care, immunizations and screening tests. The department's Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services administers the Medicaid Program to more than 1 million New Jersey residents, including more than 580,000 children.
“When this system is completely up and running, a doctor or other provider will be able to review a child's chart and see what screenings have been done and what still needs to be done; what vaccinations are necessary and what treatments may be required,” said Acting Commissioner Velez. “This will help providers make timely, informed decisions to improve the health of children enrolled in Medicaid.”
The statewide system will start by capturing data on blood lead screenings and then expand to include all well-care services and dental services over the two-year term of the grant. DHS will receive $439,700 by September for the first year and $1,077,200 in 2008 for the second.
Over the two years, this project will help DHS support a more widespread use of electronic health records that, within federal guidelines to protect confidentiality, can be accessed by treatment teams to improve the quality of care and reduce the potential for medical errors.
