Prevention: Keystone in the Architecture of Health Reform
The passage of the Affordable Care Act elevates the priority of public health and prevention efforts through new funds for health promotion activities, requirements to cover preventive services, and a national framework to view health through the lens of wellness and chronic disease prevention.
Connecting Kids to Coverage
State Medicaid programs and CHIP play a crucial role in providing coverage for low- and moderate-income children. Together, they provide access to preventive and primary care services to over one-third of all children and nearly 60 percent of low-income children.
Paying (Overdue) Attention to Bullying Prevention
Bullying is not a natural part of growing up; it is a painful and preventable experience in the lives of many children and youth. Approximately 30 percent of children and youth have bullied or have been bullied.
Reaching Out to Employers About Health Reform’s Potential
The Affordable Care Act offers an unprecedented opportunity to increase health insurance coverage and access for many Americans. The new law is particularly relevant to the business community as the timeline for implementation moves forward.
Making the Connection: Pregnancy and Oral Health
Recent research indicates that efforts to support oral health can begin even before birth; just as a pregnant woman’s overall health can affect the health of her pregnancy and baby, her oral health can play a role in the occurrence of early childhood caries in her children.
Home Visiting: Giving Parents and Children an Early Boost
Thousands of children are born each year to parents who struggle to adequately care for them or who lack traditional support networks. As a result, many of these children are at risk for abuse, neglect, or other negative outcomes.
Comparative Effectiveness Research: Informing Decisions and Improving Quality
Comparative effectiveness research (CER) is the study of methods to “prevent, diagnose, treat, and monitor a clinical condition or to improve the delivery of care” (IOM 2009). Its purpose is to assist consumers, clinicians, purchasers, and policymakers in making informed decisions that will improve health care at both the individual and population levels (IOM 2009).
Improving Diversity in the Health Professions
Why do many disadvantaged groups in the United States, including people of color and low-income populations, still lack reliable access to highquality, affordable health care? Why are these groups also among the most affected by persistent and ever-widening disparities in health and health care?
Improving Quality: Long-Term Vision and Incremental Change
Quality is one of the most pressing issues facing the health care system today, and foundations are using a variety of approaches to support quality improvement efforts at the local, state, and national levels, turning a cacophony of consumer voices into coherent, actionable work.