More than 1.4 million children covered by California's Medicaid program have not received the required testing for lead poisoning, state auditors say.
More than 1.4 million children covered by California’s Medicaid healthcare program have not received the required testing for lead poisoning, state auditors reported Tuesday, and the two agencies charged with administering tests and preventing future exposure have fallen short on their responsibilities.
The California Department of Health Care Services “has not met its responsibility to ensure that children enrolled in Medi-Cal receive required tests ... to determine whether they have elevated lead levels,” the report said.
“The rate of eligible children receiving all of the tests that they should have was less than 27%,” the report said. “Many of these children live in areas of the state with high occurrences of elevated lead ... making the low testing rates even more troubling.
According to the report, the state’s public health department has also failed to identify high-risk areas, a step they recommend the agency take immediately, and take steps to abate lead risks in those locations. The city decided in 2014 to draw its public water supply from the Flint River to save costs while the city worked on a permanent pipeline to Lake Huron. Despite resident complaints about the water’s appearance and odor, city officials maintained that the water was safe to drink.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, severe lead poisoning can lead to coma, convulsions and death. Lower levels cause more subtle symptoms, gradually impairing children’s brain development and leading to irreversible damage including a reduced IQ, attention problems and antisocial behavior. Health issues from lead exposure include anemia, high blood pressure, kidney problems and immune and reproductive disorders.
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