America's Children is a comprehensive, easy-to-read analysis of the relationship between health insurance and access to care. The book addresses three broad questions: How is children's health care currently financed? Does insurance equal access to care? How should the nation address the health needs of this vulnerable population? America's Children explores the changing role of Medicaid under managed care; state-initiated and private sector children's insurance programs; specific effects of insurance status on the care children receive; and the impact of chronic medical conditions and special health care needs. It also examines the status of "safety net" health providers, including community health centers, children's hospitals, school-based health centers, and others and reviews the changing patterns of coverage and tax policy options to increase coverage of private-sector, employer-based health insurance. In response to growing public concerns about uninsured children, last year Congress voted to provide $24 billion over five years for new state insurance initiatives. This volume will serve as a primer for concerned federal policymakers and regulators, state agency officials, health plan decisionmakers, health care providers, children's health advocates, and researchers.

This guide to early intervention services under Part H of Public Law 101-476 (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) is intended to aid state legislators who have the primary responsibility to create and shape programs under this Act. Three aspects of Part H legislation are stressed: (1) requirement of unprecedented coordination among health, social service, and education agencies; (2) focus on services to the child in the context of the family; and (3) the expectation that states will assemble a variety of funding sources to cover direct services. The first chapter provides an overview of the law including: eligibility, system components, program administration, identifying eligible children, case management, children and family rights, and program financing. The costs and benefits of early intervention for children, families, and society are considered in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 identifies policy considerations for lawmakers, Chapter 4, on financing early intervention services, identifies seven federal funding sources and discusses private health insurance. Four recommendations are offered: build a consensus among legislators and stakeholders; develop a plan to finance Part H services; ensure that programs are effective; and lobby the federal government for an increase of funds to support Part H. Appended are lists of organizational resources and acronyms. (DB)