Considerable evidence shows that children and families who are vulnerable because of their social and material circumstances shoulder a disproportionate burden of disease and are more likely to face both social and structural challenges in accessing healthcare. Addressing these issues in children is particularly important as evidence has demonstrated that inequities in health are cumulative ove...

India has a rich indigenuous medical heritage. However, even after fifty years of indepdendance it has not been given its due place in national health care delivery. This article argues strongly for evolving a nationalistic health policy.

OBJECTIVES Existing studies of disparities in access to oral health care for underserved populations often focus on supply measures such as number of dentists. This approach overlooks the importance of other aspects of the dental care delivery system, such as personal and practice characteristics of dentists, that determine the capacity to provide care. This study aims to assess the role of suc...

To advance understanding of key health policy issues and to advocate, in concert with others as appropriate, health policy that will improve health and the manner in which health care and financing systems serve Americans. Goals The Institute's Goals are to: • Identify significant long-term health policy issues; • Organize internal and external resources to analyze such policies; • Improve unde...

As the largest payer for health services in the United States, Medicare has the potential to use its payment policies to stimulate change in the organization of care to improve quality and mitigate cost growth. This paper proposes a framework in which Medicare would offer an array of new bundled payment options for physician group practices, hospitals, and delivery systems, with incentives to e...

This article examined the critical elements that have been identified in the development of advanced practice roles of nurses in four countries: Brazil, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Several sociopolitical and professional forces were examined for possible insights and ways in which they may have shaped the development and evolution of the roles of advanced prac...

This policy statement, which replaces the retired statements "Health Care for Children of Immigrant Families" (1997) and "Health Needs of Homeless Children and Families" (1996), is a broader discussion and addresses not only immigrant but also homeless and migrant child populations. It provides pediatricians with the necessary framework for addressing underserved children: those who face substa...

Colorado, Minnesota, and Vermont are pioneering innovative health care pay­ment and delivery system reforms. While the states are pursuing different models, all three are working to align incentives between health care payers and providers to better coordi­nate care, enhance prevention and disease management, reduce avoidable utilization and total costs, and improve health outcomes. Colorado an...

Despite the scientific and technological advances of recent decades and their potential impact on healthcare delivery, major disparities in child health exist both between and within countries. Across the globe, over 25,000 children under five years of age die every day, the majority, but by no means all, in developing countries. Infant mortality is 10 times higher in the world's least-develope...