by Mary Jessica Hammes
July 15, 2010

If the words “health care reform” make your eyes glaze over, check out the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) one-page fact sheets intended to explain the Health Care Reform Law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, and how they align with the academy’s core principles:

1. Every child must have quality health insurance.

2. Quality health insurance should be a right, regardless of income, for every child, pregnant women, their families, and ultimately all individuals.

3. All health insurance plans should have a comprehensive age-appropriate benefits package directed to the special needs of the pediatric population as recommended by the AAP.

4. Every child should receive care in a medical home with a primary care pediatrician, and have access to pediatric medical subspecialists, pediatric surgical specialists, pediatric mental and dental professionals, and hospitals with appropriate pediatric expertise.

5. All health plans should have payment rates that assure that children receive all recommended and needed services.

Did you know that the reform act will expand health insurance to cover almost 32 million more children and parents? Did you know it will ban pre-existing condition exclusions for kids, and allow young adults to stay covered by their parents’ insurance until age 26?

Families of children who are uninsured (10 percent of all American children) or on Medicaid (30 percent of American children) will find the fact sheets particularly helpful.  Thanks to the AAP, staying up-to-date on health care reform has never been easier. Click here to access the fact sheets and related news and editorials.