08/15/2025
As part of a Texas Health Steps medical checkup, developmental surveillance or screening must be performed at each checkup for our Medicaid members from birth through age 6 years. Along with preventive care visits, screening with the correct tools can help detect developmental delays and put our youngest members on the path to wellness.
Resource for you: We created a flyer you can download that has information on developmental screening tools and ages, billing, coding and documentation.
Tips to support quality care:
- Follow the screening tools and ages outlined in the Texas Health Steps Periodicity Schedule.
- Use the correct Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code for standardized developmental screenings.
- Document the tool, date, score, interpretation and follow-up within the same visit note.
Common errors to avoid with screenings:
- Submitting codes without a Texas Health Steps visit
- Using nonapproved screening tools
- Missing autism screening at ages 18 or 24 months
- Failing to track annual required screenings
Always check members’ eligibility and benefits before providing services. Call the number on the member ID card if you have questions.
Resources
- Our preventive care guidelines, which have immunization schedules
- Texas Immunization Registry ImmTrac2
- Quality improvement toolkits
- Texas Health Steps
The above material is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for the independent medical judgment of a physician or other health care provider. Physicians and other health care providers are encouraged to use their own medical judgment based upon all available information and the condition of the patient in determining the appropriate course of treatment. The fact that a service or treatment is described in this material is not a guarantee that the service or treatment is a covered benefit and members should refer to their certificate of coverage for more details, including benefits, limitations and exclusions. Regardless of benefits, the final decision about any service or treatment is between the member and their health care provider.