Health Affairs, 28, no. 6 (2009): w1025-w1036 (Published online 17 September 2009) doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.28.6.w1025 © 2009 by Project HOPE	New Online   Senate Health Reform Bill   Rewarding Providers   Public Option Policy Brief   Health Reform & Abortion   Delivery System Reform

This Article Figures Only Full Text (HTML) Reprint (PDF) Appendix Submit a response to this article Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Comments are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services E-mail this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Personal Archive Download to Citation Manager Reprints & Permissions Google Scholar Articles by Kenney, G. M. Articles by Selden, T. M. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kenney, G. M. Articles by Selden, T. M. Related Collections Access To Care Health Reform Insurance Coverage Insurance Coverage - Children Managed Care - Medicaid Maternal And Child Health Medicaid Business Of Health Quality Of Care Health Spending Consumer Issues

Web Exclusives

Containing Costs And Improving Care For Children In Medicaid And CHIP

The current health reform debate is greatly concerned with "bending the curve" of cost growth and containing costs, particularly in public programs. Our research demonstrates that spending in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is highly concentrated, particularly among children with chronic health problems. Ten percent of enrollees (two-thirds of whom have a chronic condition) account for 72 percent of the spending; 30 percent of enrolled children receive little or no care. These results highlight the importance of cost containment strategies that reduce avoidable hospitalizations among children with chronic problems and policies that increase preventive care, particularly among African American children.

                      What's this?