AAP News Vol. 15 No. 9 September 1999, p. 5
© 1999 American Academy of Pediatrics
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Senate bill fails to address children's health care needs

Sherry Trust Llewellyn

Children will be no better off in managed care plans than they are today, based on the health care bill passed by the U.S. Senate on July 15. The legislation fails to address the specific needs of children, such as guaranteed access to pediatricians and pediatric specialists.

The heated managed care debate was marked with clear battle lines between the political parties. When the dust settled after the final version of the bill was passed, the Academy was disappointed in the outcome for a number of reasons. First, and perhaps most importantly, the legislation fails to guarantee access to a pediatrician as a child's primary care provider or to pediatric specialists. It does not require that pediatric expertise be included in managed care operations that deal directly with the health and development of enrolled children, such as grievance procedures and quality assurance measures. In addition, the bill covers only a small percentage of the millions of Americans in managed care plans.