AAP: Investment in children’s health care leads to long-term benefits

Children’s health care should be properly developed, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

In a recent policy statement, the AAP cited research that showed long-term benefits to investing in children’s health, such as a greater chance of completing college and improved health as an adult. They urged health care providers to offerfacility-based care, preventative care, health care provider services, therapeutic and ancillary services, durable medical equipmentand laboratory, diagnostic, assessment, and testing services.

These services should be available to all children, regardless of external factors, according to the AAP. The AAP added that these services should be timely and affordable.

This information was discussed in the AAP’s policy statement, “Scope of Health Care Benefits for Neonates, Infants, Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults Through Age 26,” which was published in the September 2022 edition of Pediatrics.

Reference

American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement: investing in children’s health insurance reaps long-term rewards. American Academy of Pediatrics. August 29, 2022. Accessed August 30, 2022. aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/aap/2022/american-academy-of-pediatrics-policy-statement-investing-in-childrens-health-insurance-reaps-long-term-rewards/