Unmet need and problems accessing specialty medical and related services among children with special health care needs.
OBJECTIVE
To extend what is known about parent reports of their child's need for specialty medical and related services, unmet need, and specific types of access problems among children with special health care needs (CSHCN).


METHODS
Using data from a 1998-1999 20-state survey of families of CSHCN, we examined differences in parent report of need for services by child characteristics, investigated parent report of unmet need and access problems by service area and number of services needed, and estimated the likelihood of four access problems and unmet need by child, family, and health insurance characteristics.


RESULTS
Overall, the sample children had numerous service needs, although the prevalence of need varied by service type and child characteristics. Reports of unmet need were greater for older children and for children with multiple service needs, unstable health care needs or a behavioral health condition, parents who were in poor health or had more than a high school education, and families whose insurance coverage was inconsistent or lacked a secondary plan. Reports of access problems were greatest for mental health and home health services. The two most prevalent access problems were finding a skilled provider and getting enough visits.


CONCLUSIONS
The results underscore the importance of finding new ways to link children with behavioral health problems to mental health services, implementing coordinated care and the other core dimensions of the medical home concept, increasing the number of specialty pediatricians and home health providers, and expanding coverage for a wider range of mental health services.
Warfield
Marji Erickson
ME
Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, USA. mew@brandeis.edu
Gulley
Stephen
S
D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008483:Medical Assistance; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States