Logo image
Trends in Access to Health Care Services for US Children: 2000-2014
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Trends in Access to Health Care Services for US Children: 2000-2014

Kandyce Larson, William L. Cull, Andrew D. Racine and Lynn M. Olson
Pediatrics (Evanston), Vol.138(6), p.1
12/01/2016
DOI: 10.1542/peds.2016-2176
PMID: 27940710
url
https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-2176View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Recent years have witnessed substantial gains in health insurance abstract coverage for children, but few studies have examined trends across a diverse set of access indicators. We examine US children's access to health services and whether trends vary by race/ethnicity and income. METHODS: Analysis of 178 038 children ages 0 to 17 from the 2000 to 2014 National Health Interview Survey. Trends are examined for health insurance and 5 access indicators: no well-child visit in the year, no doctor office visit, no dental visit, no usual source of care, and unmet health needs. Logistic regression models add controls for sociodemographics and child health status. Statistical interactions test whether trends vary by race/ ethnicity and income. RESULTS: Among all children, uninsured rates declined from 12.1% in 2000 to 5.3% in 2014, with improvement across all 5 access indicators. Along with steep declines in the uninsured rate, Hispanic children had sizeable improvement for no doctor office (19.8% to 11.9%), no dental visit (43.2% to 21.8%), and no usual source of care (13.9% to 6.3%). Black children and those in poor and near-poor families also had large gains. Results from adjusted statistical interaction models showed more improvement for black and Hispanic children versus whites for 3 of 5 access indicators and for children in poor and near-poor families for 4 of 5 access indicators. CONCLUSIONS: Children's access to health services has improved since 2000 with greater gains in vulnerable population groups. Findings support a need for continued support of health insurance for all children.
Life Sciences & Biomedicine Pediatrics Science & Technology

Details

Logo image