Earlier this year, the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Maternal and Child Health Bureau sought input on their "A Blueprint for Change: Guiding Principles for Advancing the System of Services for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs and Families" with the aim of creating an effective system of care for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCNs). In our response to HRSA, we highlight the role children's hospitals and Medicaid play in the care of CYSHCNs.
Specifically, we recommend that the blueprint:
- Have a greater focus on behavioral health and national data, particularly for CYSHCNs enrolled in Medicaid.
- Acknowledge the regional nature of pediatric care and the importance of improving access to technology supporting provider communication, such as telehealth.
We also stress the need to include children's hospitals and pediatric providers as necessary stakeholders in the implementation of the goals and objectives of the Blueprint.
