Glossary

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E

Early and Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT):
The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) service is Medicaid's comprehensive and preventive child health program for individuals under the age of 21. EPSDT was defined by law as part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 (OBRA 89) legislation and includes periodic screening, vision, dental and hearing services. In addition, section 1905(r)(5) of the Social Security Act (the Act) requires that any medically necessary health care service listed at section 1905(a) of the Act be provided to an EPSDT recipient even if the service is not available under the state's Medicaid plan to the rest of the Medicaid population.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC):
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a Federal income tax credit for low-income workers who are eligible for and claim the credit. The credit reduces the amount of tax an individual owes, and may be returned in the form of a refund.
Source: Internal Revenue Service

Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT):
Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) is an electronic system that allows a recipient to authorize transfer of their government benefits from a Federal account to a retailer account to pay for products received, through an electronic debit card that operates in place of paper certificates. EBT is currently being used in many states to issue food stamp and other benefits. Nearly 85 percent of food stamp benefits are currently being issued by EBT.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Eligibility:
Refers to the process whereby an individual is determined to be eligible for health care coverage. Eligibility can be determined by the state for some programs.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD):
Kidney failure that is severe enough to require lifetime dialysis or a kidney transplant; a possible qualification for Medicare.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Entitlement:
A benefit that an individual or family is guaranteed to receive after meeting certain fixed and objective criteria. Eligibility standards for entitlements usually include financial criteria (e.g., income level, amount of assets) and categorical criteria (family with children under 21 years of age; aged; blind; or disabled; etc.) Entitlement programs must be made available to every eligible individual or family in the same way and with the same benefits throughout a state or other administering jurisdiction.
Source: Technical Assistance Collaborative, Making the Most of Mainstream Service Resources, December 4, 2002

Ex parte Redetermination:
Ex parte redetermination is the internal review of eligibility for Medicaid within a state that is based on available information and not requested or supplied again by individuals or families.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services