Intimate Partner Violence Screening and Referral by Medicaid Primary Care Clinicians

Intimate partner violence (IPV)-which includes physical, sexual, and psychological abuse-is a serious, preventable public health problem that affects millions of Americans. Primary care clinicians play a critical role in screening patients for IPV and referring patients who screen positive to IPV support resources. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has recommended that clinicians screen for IPV among women of reproductive age and provide or refer women who screen positive to ongoing support services. Despite this recommendation, primary care clinicians may encounter barriers to screening, including a lack of knowledge, time constraints, and a lack of adequate compensation. Medicaid expansion programs must provide coverage of certain preventive services recommended by USPSTF, including screening for IPV, and States may opt to cover these preventive services in their traditional Medicaid programs. However, there are no specific procedure codes that allow clinicians to bill for time spent screening for IPV and making referrals to IPV support resources. This evaluation will survey primary care clinicians who serve adults enrolled in Medicaid to determine whether and how they screen for IPV, and whether and how they make referrals to IPV support resources.

Announced or Revised	Agency	Title	Component	Report Number(s)	Expected Issue Date (FY)
Revised	Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services	Intimate Partner Violence Screening and Referral by Medicaid Primary Care Clinicians	Office of Evaluation and Inspections	OEI-03-21-00310	2024