Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026
Whole-body PET/MRI of Pediatric Patients: The Details That Matter
Published on: December 19, 2017
Tiny patients, huge impact: a call to action
Jordee Wells1, Anita Shah2, Holly Gillis3
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Emergency Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States.
Insights
Pediatric care is threatened by funding inequities between Medicaid and Medicare, leading to fewer specialists and services. Increasing Medicaid funding to Medicare levels is crucial for maintaining children's health quality.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Healthcare
- Health Economics
- Health Policy
Background:
- High-quality pediatric care for over 70 million US children faces significant threats.
- Reimbursement inequities between Medicaid and Medicare devalue pediatric services, impacting institutional prioritization of children's health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the financial obstacles and reimbursement model issues impacting pediatric healthcare.
- To highlight the consequences of undervaluing pediatric care on service availability and specialist numbers.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of payment models and reimbursement rates (Medicaid vs. Medicare).
- Examination of the impact of financial disparities on pediatric healthcare supply and demand.
- Review of unique aspects of pediatric care not adequately covered by current payment structures.
Main Results:
- Declining numbers of pediatricians and healthcare centers due to financial pressures.
- Medicaid's lower reimbursement rates incentivize prioritizing adult care, despite covering nearly half of US children.
- Reduced availability of essential pediatric services, medications, and equipment nationwide.
Conclusions:
- Urgent need to increase Medicaid funding to Medicare parity to value children's healthcare equally.
- Revising payment models to recognize the complexities of pediatric care beyond procedures is essential.
- Failure to address these issues will lead to continued decline in pediatric care quality and future healthcare system strain.
Abstract:
The continuation of high-quality care is under threat for the over 70 million children in the United States. Inequities between Medicaid and Medicare payments and the current procedural-based reimbursement model have resulted in the undervaluing of pediatric medical care and lack of prioritization of children's health by institutions. The number of pediatricians, including pediatric subspecialists, and pediatric healthcare centers are declining due to mounting financial obstacles and this crucial healthcare supply is no longer able to keep up with demand. The reasons contributing to these inequities are clear and rational: Medicaid has significantly lower rates of reimbursement compared to Medicare, yet Medicaid covers almost half of children in the United States and creates the natural incentive for medical institutions to prioritize the care of adults. Additionally, certain aspects of children's healthcare are unique from adults and are not adequately covered in the current payment model. The result of decades of devaluing children's healthcare has led to a substantial decrease in the availability of services, medications, and equipment needed to provide healthcare to children across the nation. Fortunately, the solution is just as clear as the problem: we must value the healthcare of children as much as that of adults by increasing Medicaid funding to be on par with Medicare and appreciate the complexities of care beyond procedures. If these changes are not made, the high-quality care for children in the US will continue to decline and increase strain on the overall healthcare system as these children age into adulthood.
