CurrentMVP Health CarePolicy N/A

New York Foster Care Access Standards — Initial Health Services Timeframes

Defines required initial health, dental, mental health, developmental, substance abuse, HIV assessment/testing, and related access timeframes and responsible performers for children placed in foster care in New York; applies to participating providers, child welfare caseworkers, and designated staff who deliver these services.

Policy Summary

PayerMVP Health Care

PolicyNew York Foster Care Access Standards — Initial Health Services Timeframes

Policy CodePolicy N/A

Change TypeNo material changes

Effective DateJun 1, 2025

Next Review DateJun 1, 2025

Key ActionPerform an initial screening for abuse/neglect within 24 hours, preferably by a Health Practitioner or Child Welfare Caseworker/Health Staff.

SourceLink

POLICY UPDATE CHANGES

No material clinical or coverage changes in this revision.

24hinitial screening / abuse/neglect screening timeframe

30dmedical/dental/mental health assessment timeframe

45ddevelopmental / substance abuse timeframe

60dfollow-up evaluation / HIV testing arrangement

10d

Policy Summary

PayerMVP Health Care

PolicyNew York Foster Care Access Standards — Initial Health Services Timeframes

Policy CodePolicy N/A

Change TypeNo material changes

Effective DateJun 1, 2025

Next Review DateJun 1, 2025

Key ActionPerform an initial screening for abuse/neglect within 24 hours, preferably by a Health Practitioner or Child Welfare Caseworker/Health Staff.

SourceLink

On This Page

Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

Foster Care Initial Services — Required Criteria & Timeframes

Foster care initial services criteria

Initial health services and their required timeframes and designated performers for children placed in foster care:

Foster care initial services must be provided according to the timeframes and by the performers specified below.

ALL of the following

Initial Screening/Screening for Abuse/NeglectWithin 24 hours of request
Who performs: Health Practitioner (preferred) or Child Welfare Caseworker/Health Staff
Initial Determination of Capacity to Consent for HIV Risk Assessment & TestingWithin 5 days of request
Who performs: Child Welfare Caseworker or Designated Staff
Initial HIV Risk Assessment for Child Without Capacity to ConsentWithin 5 days of request
Who performs: Child Welfare Caseworker or Designated Staff
Request Consent for Release of Medical Records and TreatmentWithin 10 days of request
Who performs: Child Welfare Caseworker or Designated Staff
Initial Medical AssessmentWithin 30 days of request
Who performs: Health Practitioner
Initial Dental AssessmentWithin 30 days of request
Who performs: Health Practitioner
Initial Mental Health AssessmentWithin 30 days of request
Who performs: Mental Health Practitioner
Family Planning Education and Counseling and Follow-Up Health Care for Youth Aged 12 and Older (or younger as appropriate)Within 30 days of request
Who performs: Health Practitioner
HIV Risk Assessment for Child with Possible Capacity to ConsentWithin 30 days of request
Who performs: Child Welfare Caseworker or Designated Staff
Arrange HIV Testing for Child with No Possibility of Capacity to Consent and Assessed to be at Risk of HIV Infection30 days
Who performs: Child Welfare Caseworker or Designated Staff
Initial Developmental Assessment45 days
Who performs: Health Practitioner
Initial Substance Abuse Treatment45 days
Who performs: Health Practitioner
Follow-up Health Evaluation60 days
Who performs: Health Practitioner
Arrange HIV Testing for Child Determined in Follow-up Assessment to be Without Capacity to Consent and Assessed to be at Risk of HIV Infection60 days
Who performs: Child Welfare Caseworker or Designated Staff
Arrange HIV Testing for Child With Capacity to Consent who has agreed in writing to consent to testing60 days
Who performs: Child Welfare Caseworker or Health Staff

Coding & Timeframe Thresholds

Not specified in documentmixed

No codes listed

Timeframe thresholds

24 hoursInitial Screening/Screening for Abuse/Neglect — Time Frame = Within 24 hours of request

5 daysInitial Determination of Capacity to Consent for HIV Risk Assessment & Testing; Initial HIV Risk Assessment for Child Without Capacity to Consent — Time Frame = Within 5 days of request

10 daysRequest Consent for Release of Medical Records and Treatment — Time Frame = Within 10 days of request

30 daysInitial Medical, Dental, and Mental Health Assessments; Family Planning Education/Counseling; certain HIV testing arrangements — Time Frame = Within 30 days of request

45 daysInitial Developmental Assessment and Initial Substance Abuse Treatment — Time Frame = 45 days

60 daysFollow-up Health Evaluation and related HIV testing arrangements — Time Frame = 60 days

Required Provider Actions & Deadlines

Documentation Required

Complete initial abuse/neglect screening within 24 hours

Initial Screening/Screening for Abuse/Neglect must be completed within 24 hours of the request and should be performed by a Health Practitioner (preferred) or a Child Welfare Caseworker/Health Staff.

Timeframe: Within 24 hours of request
Who performs: Health Practitioner (preferred) or Child Welfare Caseworker/Health Staff

Prior Authorization

Arrange/perform required 30-day initial assessments

Arrange and perform the Initial Medical Assessment, Initial Dental Assessment, Initial Mental Health Assessment, and Family Planning Education and Counseling (and follow-up health care for youth aged 12+) within 30 days of the request, using the specified practitioners.

Initial Medical Assessment — within 30 days; Who: Health Practitioner

Roles & Participating Provider Definitions

Participating Provider

Participating ProviderA provider (not a behavioral health specialist) required to perform the listed services in the designated timeframes for children placed in foster care in New York

ContextApplies to services performed by a Participating Provider who is not a behavioral health specialist as specified in the New York Foster Care Access Standards

ReferenceSee New York Foster Care Access Standards for required services and timeframes

Responsible performers

Health PractitionerPerforms Initial Screening (preferred), Initial Medical Assessment, Initial Dental Assessment, Initial Developmental Assessment, Initial Substance Abuse Treatment, and Follow‑up Health Evaluation as specified

Mental Health Practitioner