Child and Teen Checkups Newsletter

January 2025

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In this edition: 

• Welcome!
• Pop quiz
• C&TC office hours
• Stress management for youth
• Health Care Education and Training resource center
• Free resource for patients: STI hotline
• Updated vaccine recommendations
• Continuous eligibility for those covered by Medicaid Click to edit this heading.
• Free self-paced trainings
• Upcoming training schedule
• Billing and claims
• Pop quiz answers
• Contact

Welcome!

If this email was forwarded to you and you’d like to join our list, subscribe at this link.

Pop quiz

Test your C&TC billing and referral code knowledge! 

C&TC office hours

Second Wednesday of each month from 9 - 9:30 a.m. 

Join C&TC from the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) for virtual office hours to ask questions, get program support, engage in peer sharing, and strengthen relationships. Register and submit your questions in advance for our January session and February session. 

Stress management for youth

Stress is at an all-time high and looks different in young people and adults. As we enter 2025, learn how to help children and teens manage their stress and share within your clinical practice. 

Health Care Education and Training resource center

The Health Care Education and Training resource center offers webinars, videos, and self-paced training on adolescent health, sexual and reproductive health, STI/HIV prevention, trauma-informed care, and more.

Free resource for patients: STI hotline

The Minnesota Family Planning and STI hotline is a free confidential service for anyone to call or text for medically accurate information and assistance to find health care services. The hotline is sponsored by MDH and operated by the Family Tree Clinic in Minneapolis.

Updated vaccine recommendations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met and approved several vaccine recommendations and updates:

• 2025 Immunization schedules: Approved. Additional recommendations will be in the addendum.
• 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine: Additional dose recommended for those 6 months and older who are immunocompromised.
• Meningococcal B vaccines: Aligned dosing for Bexsero (MenB-4C) and Trumenba (MenB-FHbp). Products are not interchangeable.
• Flu vaccine: High-dose and adjuvanted options added for solid organ transplant recipients 18 years and older.
• RSV immunization: New monoclonal antibody for infants is under review.
• HPV vaccination: Possible rewording to start routine immunization at age 9.
• Cytomegalovirus vaccine: Possible licensure in 2025. 

For more details, review the Committee’s November newsletter.  

Continuous eligibility for those covered by Medicaid Click to edit this heading.

Effective Jan. 1, 2024, children under age 19 have 12 months of continuous eligibility for Medical Assistance. Read the DHS Bulletin #23-21-27 for more information. 
Minnesota also approved continuous eligibility for children until age 6 and for individuals age 19 up to age 21 for 12 months. Read the DHS Bulletin #24-21-11 for more information. 

Free self-paced trainings

Child and Teen Checkups self-paced training modules are now available on MN.TRAIN.

The modules include: 

• C&TC Hearing Screening Overview
• C&TC Vision Screening Overview
• C&TC Developmental and Social-Emotional Screening Overview 
• C&TC Minnesota’s Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment 
• Oral Health Screening in the C&TC Clinic Setting  

Upcoming training schedule

Training descriptions are located on the MDH website. Submit a C&TC training request form to request a training for your staff or organization. 

Clinic trainings

For clinic staff (medical providers, nurses, medical assistants, nurse managers, billing) involved in C&TC screening in the clinic. The trainings are eligible for continuing education units.  

Hearing Basic Screening Skills (FREE)

Learn pure tone audiometry, play audiometry, pass/refer/rescreen criteria, and documentation.

• Wednesday, Jan. 15: 12:10 – 1 p.m.
  • Registration form 

Vision Basic Screening Skills (FREE)

Learn visual acuity plus lens screening, pass/refer/rescreen criteria, and documentation.

• Wednesday, Jan. 22: 12:10 – 1 p.m.
  • Registration form

Sports Physical into a Complete C&TC (FREE)  

Incorporate a Minnesota State High School League sports physical into a routine visit for youth ages 11-20 years who are eligible for C&TC. 

• Wednesday, Jan. 29: 12:10 – 1 p.m.
  • Registration form

In-person trainings

Hearing and Vision Basic Screening Skills ($60) 

• Mar. 18: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., St. Paul
• April 22: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Thief River Falls
• June 5: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Rochester
• June 25: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., St. Paul

Register for Hearing and Vision Basic Screening Skills.

Hearing and Vision Advanced Screening Skills for Nurses ($105)

• Mar. 18: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., St. Paul
• April 22: 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Thief River Falls
• June 5: 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Rochester
• June 25: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., St. Paul

Register for Hearing and Vision Advanced Screening Skills for Nurses. 

Webinar trainings

Hearing and Vision Basic Screening Skills ($60) 

• Feb. 27: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., WebEx 

Register for Hearing and Vision Basic Screening Skills. 

Billing and claims

Billing for a complete C&TC exam can be complicated. The MHCP Provider Manual has information including referral codes and screening exceptions you may find helpful. 
If training or additional assistance is needed, please connect with us at dhs.childteencheckups@state.mn.us. 

Pop quiz answers

1. Answer: Referral code ST. Since this is a new referral for the patient, referral code ST would be used to indicate there is a need for diagnostic or corrective treatment identified during the initial or periodic screening.
2. Answer: Referral code NU. A referral code must be indicated on every C&TC claim even when there is no formal referral provided. Code NU is appropriate for all visits where no formal referral is indicated other than the verbal referral for preventive dental care. 

Review the C&TC page of the Minnesota Health Care Programs Provider Manual for billing and coding questions.  

Contact

As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to us!  

Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Child and Teen Checkups website 

Clinic questions related to screening and referrals:

health.childteencheckups@state.mn.us
651-201-3650 

Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) MHCP Provider Manual C&TC Section website 

Policy, billing, and coding questions:

dhs.childteencheckups@state.mn.us
651-431-2633 

Child and Teen Checkups (C&TC) is Minnesota’s Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program. EPSDT is a federal program required in every state to provide comprehensive health care and dental services for children under the age of 21 who are eligible for Medicaid. Periodic examinations or screenings are delivered according to the C&TC Schedule of Age-Related Screening Standards.

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