Increase Health Care Access
Investing in children’s health is a smart investment. [i] Evidence shows that
Medicaid and SCHIP enrollment yields positive impacts on health conditions and school performance. [ii] Publicly insured children have fewer unmet medical or dental needs than uninsured children. [iii] Emergency room use by publicly insured children has declined by nearly 25 percent over 10 years. [iv]
What Can Policymakers Do?
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Expand health insurance. Increase the number and percentage of children with comprehensive health insurance coverage.
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Increase well-child visits. Increase the number of children receiving primary, well-child visits that identify children’s developmental needs.
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Enhance referrals and follow-up services. Support referrals and follow-up services for children identified with physical, development or behavioral concerns.
[i]
Schor,
E.L., Abrams, M.K., and Shea, K. (2007, March/April). Medicaid: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention for School Readiness. Health Affairs, 26(2), 420-29
[ii]
[iii]
[iv]
Ku, L. and Broaddus, M. (2007
, January ). Improving Children’s Health: A Chartbook About the Roles of Medicaid and SCHIP 2007 Edition., Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Available online.