![Children running with the text "Healthy Children and Youth Program"](/sites/mydss/files/media/image/2024/05/Healthy-Children-and-Youth-web-header.png)
What is the Healthy Children & Youth (HCY) Program?
The Healthy Children & Youth (HCY) Program is a preventative health care program for MO HealthNet eligible children under 21.
Some examples of services include:
- Full medical screening
- Comprehensive physical exam
- Comprehensive health and developmental history
- Health education
- Immunizations
- Laboratory tests
- Lead screening
- Hearing screening
- Vision screening
- Dental screening
Providers cannot bill you for MO HealthNet covered services for an eligible child. If you have a question about what is covered, call Constituent Services Unit at 800-392-2161.
How can I keep my child healthy?
Missouri’s Medicaid program (MO HealthNet) and Missouri’s Medicaid Managed Care Plans (Home State Health, Healthy Blue, or United Healthcare) all offer free medical checkups for anyone under the age of 21 years.
Contact your child’s primary care provider to schedule a medical checkup. These checkups provide an opportunity to ask general questions or talk about concerns about your child’s development, behavior and well-being. A primary care provider can also answer questions about safety, healthy eating, physical activity, and computer and television screen time.
Does my child need immunizations?
Immunizations are recommended to be given at certain ages. For more information on what immunizations are required at a specific age, go to the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services’ Immunization website. You should contact your child’s primary care provider or local public health department to find out if your children are up-to-date on their immunizations.
How can I find other resources?
Prevent Lead Poisoning
If your child is under 24 months old, they should have their blood tested for lead at the age 12 months and 24 months. Children under the age of six (6) years old who live in high risk areas should be tested for lead poisoning annually.
To find out if you live in a high-risk area, you can view a map on the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website.
Find a provider
If you need help finding a provider that accepts MO HealthNet, search online at My MO Health Portal by name, county, provider type or specialty. You can also call MO HealthNet Constituent Services at 800-392-2161.
Transportation to Medical Appointments
If you don’t have a ride to your scheduled appointment, you may be able to get a ride for free. Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) is a service for eligible MO HealthNet participants that provides transportation to covered MO HealthNet services.
You can learn more by reviewing the NEMT webpage.
Learn more about MO HealthNet
If you have questions about your MO HealthNet benefits, visit the Benefits & Services page or call Constituent Services at: 800-392-2161.
More Resources and Services for Families
For more information regarding resources available to families in Missouri, visit the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies website: healthymomsbabies.mo.gov