As the United States Congress continues to work through health reform legislation, the American Academy of Pediatrics believes that there has never been a more important time to advocate for the health needs of our nation's children.

AAP supports health reform, and urges a health care system that includes insurance for all children with the following provisions:

1. Child-specific benefits
2. Default enrollment/choice for parents and caregivers
3. Affordable premiums and cost-sharing
4. Medical homes for all
5. Appropriate payment health care reform

Access Principles

The Academy has developed a set of Access Principles, which serve as the foundation of our advocacy for children and pediatricians. Read the Academy's Principles.

The essence of the principles are: For every child:

• Health insurance coverage regardless of income • Comprehensive age appropriate benefits • Quality care delivered in a medical home

• Access to pediatric specialists • Appropriate payment for necessary services

AAP Health Reform Priorities  One Page Overview: Children and Health Reform Access to Care for All Children Children and Health Care Equity Pediatric Access and Payment Rates Children and Public Programs Pediatric Workforce MediKids Health Insurance Act Benefits to Meet All Children's Needs Pediatrics is Prevention Gold Standard: Bright Futures Mental Health Oral Health Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan Model What is Prevention? High Quality Care for Children in a Reformed Health Care System All Children Need a Medical Home Children Deserve High Quality Care Health Information Technology Comparative Effectiveness State Roles and Partnerships  Related AAP Policies and Resources  Medical Home Financing Principles Position on Medical Liability Reform  Health Reform Updates for AAP Members

Latest News From the AAP AAP Statement on U.S. Senate Finance Committee Passage of America's Healthy Future Act of 2009 (10/13/09) News Release on AAP Support for Children's Needs in Health Care Reform (9/16/09) AAP Webinar on Health Reform, 08/13/09 (AAP Member Center Login Required) AAP Statement on U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Passage of H.R. 3200 (August 3, 2009) AAP Testimony AAP President Elect Judith Palfrey, MD, FAAP testifies before Senate HELP Committee: Full testimony (6/11/09) News Release (6/12/09) The importance of a medical home, before the Senate HELP Committee, by Marsha Raulerson, MD, FAAP: Full testimony (5/14/09) Pediatrics and health information technology, before the House Subcommittee on Regulations and Health Care, by Susan Kressley, MD, FAAP : Full testimony (6/24/09) Children's need for pediatric specific preventive care, before the Senate HELP Committee, by Joseph F. Hagen Jr. MD, FAAP: Full testimony (1/27/09) Health Care Op-Ed Published in Ashville Citizen-Times by Dr. Olson Huff, FAAP Health Care Op-Ed co-authored by Dr. Marian F. Earls, FAAP  AAP Comments on Health Reform Proposals for AAP Members  Congressional and White House   Health Reform Activity  Senate Activity Finance Committee America’s Healthy Future Act of 2009 (S 1796) America’s Healthy Future Act of 2009 (S 1796) as amended Chairman’s Mark of America’s Healthy Future Act of 2009 (S 1796) Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Affordable Health Choices Act (S 1679) Summary of Affordable Health Choices Act (S 1679) House Activity House of Representatives Affordable Health Care for America Act (HR 3962) Summary of Health Care for America Act (HR 3962) House of Representatives' Ways and Means, Education and Labor, and Energy and Commerce Committees America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 (HR 3200) Summary of America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 (HR 3200)