Implications for Policy and Practice
摘要
This chapter focuses on the critical policies and practices aimed at enhancing the value of care for children with medical complexity (CMC). CMC represent a critical demographic within pediatric healthcare, necessitating targeted policies to enhance care value. Despite constituting only 1.5% of the pediatric population, CMC account for a substantial proportion of healthcare utilization and expenditure. Direct costs alone constitute over one-third of total pediatric healthcare expenses, while indirect costs remain challenging to quantify yet significantly high. Over the past two decades, specialized care models have been developed to address the unique needs of CMC. However, existing payment models have struggled to keep pace. Recent advancements include reimbursement for indirect care, care coordination, and waivers to traditional Medicare eligibility. These emerging payment models hold promise for more effectively meeting the needs of the CMC population, improving the quality of their care, and reducing the financial burden on healthcare systems.