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AAP News Vol. 15 No. 12 December 1999, p. 6 © 1999 American Academy of Pediatrics
Children enrolled in Medicaid have a greater chance of having elevated blood lead levels than other children, according to a study released by the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) in January. Using national data on children's blood lead levels from 1991 through 1994, the GAO showed that 60 percent of all children with blood lead levels above 10 µg/dL were enrolled in Medicaid. Of those above 20 µg/dL, at least 83 percent were enrolled in Medicaid. In addition, only 20 percent of children enrolled in Medicaid during the same years had been tested for lead poisoning. About one-third of all children are enrolled in Medicaid.
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