STAR KIDS: SCREENING AND
ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS
2014-2018
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
PPRI was a subcontractor to the Texas A&M University School of Public Health for this project. The goal of this project was to develop a standardized, modular, care needs screening and assessment instrument that is comprehensive, person-centered, evidence-based, holistic, and takes into consideration social and medical issues of children with disabilities on Medicaid. The SK-SAI is as part of a comprehensive screening and assessment process to help identify the complexity and intensity of an individuals’ preferences and physical, medical, mental, social, developmental, and behavioral needs. Findings from this process assisted HHSC and STAR Kids managed care organizations to identify trends and provide insight on the utilization of services and quality of care. We developed the tool and then tested it with a variety of reliability and validity testing protocols.
MAIN FINDINGS
Results indicated that 72% of items functioned well. Community members felt that organizational policies and the accuracy of clinical information obtained during assessment processes led directly to loss of services. Co-creating the assessment with caregivers of children with disabilities led to a comprehensive, person-centered, and holistic tool. The process buttressed several concrete systems and policy actions to improve home health care for children with disabilities in Medicaid managed care.
SPONSORS
