Improving access to health care for children.
OBJECTIVE
The number of uninsured children has been growing at an alarming rate. The most vulnerable children are those in lower-income families who are falling through the cracks between evolving government-sponsored health insurance programs. Recent policy initiatives may not be adequate to extend coverage to more children.


CONCLUSIONS
Many low-income children actually are eligible for Medicaid but are not enrolled for a variety of reasons. The numbers of these children have risen due to welfare reform. Better outreach efforts are needed to ensure that new child health insurance programs and Medicaid expansions achieve their goals.


CONCLUSIONS
A comprehensive assessment of insurance status and referral to community agencies should be an integral part of patient care for all healthcare providers.
Sochalski
J
J
Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA. julieas@pobox.upenn.edu
Villarruel
A M
AM
D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004608:Eligibility Determination; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services; D020407:Internet; D008484:Medicaid; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D011203:Poverty; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States