Modern technology permits youth and children with special health care needs to live longer. However, there has been much less success in creating an appropriate system of health, educational, vocational, and other services to address the unique needs of these youth as they move through adolescence to adulthood and independence. Clearly, significant improvements in transition service systems must be made in order to increase the chances that youth with special health care needs will be healthy and ready to work. As is noted in a Fact Sheet from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau on its Healthy and Ready to Work initiative, a number of forces and factors impact on youth with SHCN, and impede their transition to work and independence. The Power of the Purchaser Employers, governmental agencies and families are seeking to purchase comprehensive, high quality, family-centered and affordable health care for children, including those with chronic conditions.
Families also contribute to the purchase of private health insurance.
Together these purchasers have an important stake in the design of children's coverage policies and in the selection of qualified managed care plans. This tool is specifically designed to support informed decision making in selecting health plans that provide access to quality child health care while balancing cost and value.