1. (a) The department shall require all participating managed care organizations (MCO) to provide comprehensive, timely and cost-effective diagnostic, screening and treatment services of the medical, vision, hearing, and dental needs of eligible STAR Program members under the age of 21, at a level and frequency that meet the requirements of the federal EPSDT Program found at 42 United States Code §1396d(r) and the Texas Health Steps Program (THSteps) found at Chapter 33 of this title (relating to Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment). These requirements shall be contained in all contracts.
2. (b) The department shall require the MCOs to make available special training about THSteps benefits and goals to all providers of health and dental services contracting with the MCO, to providers' staffs, and to all employees and contractors of the MCO who will provide oral presentations or marketing to members or prospective members. To fulfill this requirement, the MCOs may use the training programs created by the department or its contractors, or they may create their own training programs. Any training program created by the MCO under this subsection must meet the requirements of the department and be approved by the department.
3. (c) MCOs shall coordinate and cooperate with the department in developing effective outreach, access, and monitoring systems to ensure that all qualified members receive THSteps benefits.
4. (d) The managed care programs of participating MCOs are intended to complement and enhance the effectiveness and availability of THSteps benefits in the service areas. The department shall not delegate the responsibility and accountability of monitoring and for ensuring that THSteps benefits are available and accessible to all eligible children.

Source Note:The provisions of this §353.413 adopted to be effective December 18, 1996, 21 TexReg 11822; transferred effective September 1, 2001, as published in the Texas Register May 24, 2002, 27 TexReg 4561.