Developmental disabilities: Early intervention is key
Studies show a significant lag exists between earliest concerns and actual reported identification of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), thus contributing to potentially significant delays in intervention. Because of the benefit of early intervention, identification of developmental disabilities by health care professionals at earlier ages is essential. Here's what you can do:
- Consider developmental surveillance/screening at every well-child visit.
- Follow Priority Health's Preventive Health Care Guidelines for developmental screenings at 9, 18 and 30 months of age. Developmental screening is included in the preventive exam procedure code.
- If you identify a concern, refer the child for developmental testing, which includes cognitive processes, visual motor responses and other tests performed by psychologists, neurologists, etc. (Documentation must include a separate interpretation and report.)
- Understand Priority Health's coverage: The preventive health exam includes a surveillance/screening exam for developmental disorders. If testing is required, the testing isn't considered a preventive benefit. For coverage details for testing, please call the Provider Helpline at 800 942-4765.
Where can you refer your patients with positive results?
Children with positive screening results may be referred to Early On or their local school district for additional testing and services. Refer children 0-36 months old to Early On (800 327-5966) and children over 3 years old to their local school district. Information on developmental screening can be found at priorityhealth.com/provider/clinical-resources/developmental-screening.
Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders -- Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, United States, 2006
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