State Agencies

Medicaid providers, departments of public health, and Title V, child care, child welfare, and other local agencies that deal with family health, education, and well-being are key drivers of state health promotion and disease prevention initiatives. In some instances, these efforts might include agencies such as departments of housing and transportation.

The evidence-informed recommendations and guidance offered by Bright Futures, which has been developed by a broad base of multidisciplinary experts, serve as credible core content for these initiatives.

State agencies are in a unique position to

  • Update or revise provider manuals or required Periodicity Schedules.
  • Require or recommend standardized developmental assessments.
  • Promote information about Bright Futures and available tools and resources.
  • Partner with other groups to use data-driven strategies to improve the quality of preventive services delivered in their state and communities. When appropriate, these groups can provide data to implement high-quality state and community health care improvement projects (see Quality Improvement section).
  • Provide public education about new and ongoing important prevention topics such as immunizations, oral health, healthy weight, and emotional well-being.
  • Sponsor provider trainings that incorporate Bright Futures content.
  • Change billing and payment policies.
  • Implement Bright Futures Guidelines in all public health clinics.
  • Educate all home visiting professionals and early education and child care professionals about Bright Futures Guidelines so that they can reinforce messages when appropriate and help prepare parents to be effective partners during their children's well-child visits.

 Key EPSDT Resources

State Medicaid agencies have been especially influential in the implementation of Bright Futures. In June 2014, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published EPSDT—A Guide for States: Coverage in the Medicaid Benefit for Children and Adolescents​, which references Bright Futures throughout. This guide help states, health care providers, and others understand the scope of services that are covered under EPSDT so that they may realize EPSDT's goals and provide the best possible child and adolescent health benefit through their Medicaid programs. The National EPSDT Improvement Workgroup is developing a series of strategy guides on specific topics to support states and their partners.

The AAP has developed EPSDT State Profiles that provide detailed information each state Medicaid program's EPSDT benefit and how this compares to the Bright Futures Guidelines.

Visit the Media Center to listen to brief recorded interviews with individuals who have been involved in state-level implementation projects.

 
  • Audio recordings, videos and Webinars about Bright Futures
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