Texas Health Steps (THSteps) and Well Checkups Preventive Care Screening Tools–Texas Medicaid

Reminder

In 2021, Texas Health Steps (THSteps) added two preventive care medical check-up screening tools—one for developmental screening of children, and another for mental health screening for adolescents. The two new screening tools for THSteps include:

1. Developmental Screenings for Children                                              The Survey of Well-being of Young Children (SWYC)1 is a developmental screening tool for ages nine months-30 months. The SWYC Milestones is a 10-item questionnaire that parents fill out about their child’s development. The THSteps Periodicity Schedule requires specific development screening assessments of the following:

Developmental Screening Assessments

Ages and Stages Assessment (ASQ)

Ages and Stages Social and Emotional Assessment (ASQ:SE)

Parents Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS)

Parents Evaluation of Developmental Status: Developmental Milestones (PEDS:DM)

SWYC Age Ranges

Nine Months:

Nine – 11 months

18 Months:

18 – 22 months

12 Months:

12 – 14 months

24 Months:

23 – 28 months

15 Months:

15 – 17 months

30 Months:

29 – 34 months

 

2. Mental Health Screening for Adolescents                                          The Rapid Assessment for Adolescent Preventive Services (RAAPS)2 is a mental health screening for adolescents ages 12-18. This gives providers the opportunity to use an adolescent-friendly tool that leads to a more effective, systematic assessment, identifying at-risk adolescents during preventive health check-ups. A comprehensive THSteps exam includes an annual mental health screening for behavioral, social and emotional development.

Resources

Reference and review the BCBSTX Preventive Care Guidelines (PCGs), Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs), and Texas Health Steps THSteps for Medical Providers, which includes all current vaccine schedules, ImmTrac2, and other important guidance for treating your patients.

Please reference TMPPM for additional information.

1Advanced Medical and Professional Solutions. (no date) Peer to Peer Exchange: Survey of Well-being of Young Children (SWYC). Accessed 05/07/2021 at www.amchp.org/programsandtopics/CYSHCN/projects/spharc/peer-to-peer-exchange/Documents/SWYC.pdf

2National Library of Medicine. (2014) The Rapid Assessment for Adolescent Preventive Services (RAAPS): providers' assessment of its usefulness in their clinical practice settings. Accessed 05/07/2021 at The Rapid Assessment for Adolescent Preventive Services (RAAPS): providers' assessment of its usefulness in their clinical practice settings - PubMed (nih.gov)