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Back to School and the IDPH Children's Agenda
Q&A Follow-Up
Below are responses to questions from the Q&A session that required follow up or that were not answered during the webinar. For any additional questions, please contact the IDPH Medical Services Division though the online contact form.
Can an out-of-state healthcare provider complete the Illinois Certificate of Child Health Examination?
No. The physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant completing the form must be licensed to practice in Illinois.
- However, for transfer students from out of the State or out of the country, or from a federal Head Start program, a health form that is comparable to the Illinois requirements may be accepted only at the time of first entry into an Illinois school. (A statement by a physician or other health care provider indicating only that an examination was conducted is not acceptable.)
When are religious exemption forms or medical exemption statements due?
They are due whenever the Certificate of Child Health Examination is due.
If a medical exemption statement indicates that it is temporary, or for alternate schedule requests, the school should ensure the student provides proof of immunization once that temporary period ends. The health care provider should ensure they either vaccinate the child when the need for exemption ends or provide documentation of a need for an extension of the exemption.
Use of the Illinois Certificate of Religious Exemption applies to students transferring into school districts at any grade or students entering preschool programs operated by elementary or secondary schools. If the permanent record transferred with the student includes a valid Certificate of Religious Exemption, the new school district or preschool program shall accept the Certificate presented as if the Certificate had been initially presented to the new school.
What instructions do you have for School Nurses receiving Certificate of Child Health Examination forms without the developmental screening or the social emotional screening addressed? We don't have a school counselor.
It is recommended that if a school does not have qualified personnel to complete the developmental screening or the social emotional screening, they should notify the parent or guardian that documentation from the health care provider of this required screening is missing and that the parent/guardian should discuss with the health care provider to ensure the screening was or is completed.
However, should this part of the form not be filled out, the student should not be removed from school and may enroll in or remain enrolled in school.
Is it okay to check a lead level at 9 months of age? Or should it be done at 12 months?
For children enrolled in or eligible for Medicaid or any HFS medical program, testing must be done at 12 months. IDPH guidelines also indicate testing at 12 months if they reside in a high-risk ZIP code or if the Childhood Lead Risk Questionnaire indicates they should be tested. Children younger than 12 months should be tested if a risk assessment indicates a need for testing.
Is it ok to accept a certificate of child health examination if the actual lead test result is not written in by the health care provider?
Documentation that lead screening or testing was done is required for children ages 1 to 6 years before entering day care, nursey school, preschool, or kindergarten. For purposes of fulfilling the State’s requirements, the actual lead result is not required. However, early childhood and school personnel are advised to check with your school district or program on whether they may have separate policies requiring a lead test result.
What needs to be noted on the physical examination relative to lead in order for the Certificate of Child Health Examination to be compliant specific to 9th graders or other children older than age 6?
The requirement for documentation that lead screening or testing was done only applies to children ages 1 to 6 years.
However, for children 7 years and older, health care providers should also screen during the school health examination if, based on medical judgment, the child is potentially at high risk of lead poisoning.
Are low-risk ZIP codes posted online, or are patients assumed to live in a low-risk ZIP code if their ZIP code isn't included in the high-risk ZIP codes listing?
All high-risk ZIP codes are included on the second page of the Childhood Lead Risk Questionnaire. Any ZIP codes not listed are low risk.
I have a few kids in my school that have lead levels 5 or above. Who are the ones that follow up with these children?
It should be noted that the current threshold for elevated blood lead level is 3.5 μg/dL or higher.
All children with a reported elevated blood lead level of 3.5 μg/dL or higher receive public health department case management and environmental lead inspection.
