The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) supports the current health reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-152), and will continue to work with the Administration to ensure that the law is implemented to provide the best possible outcomes for children and the pediatricians who care for them. The AAP will also work with our members and chapters at the state and local level to keep health reform implementation focused on children.

The Academy's priorities for health reform are included in the current health reform law:

1. Health care coverage for all children in the United States
2. Age-appropriate benefits in a medical home
3. Appropriate payment rates and workforce improvements to allow real access to covered services

• AAP Priorities Within Health Reform Implementation: One-page fact sheets
  • Overview: AAP Priorities Within Health Reform Implementation
  • Age-Appropriate Benefits
  • Children and the Medical Home
  • Access to Care Through Pediatric Payment Rates
  • Support for Small Pediatric Practices
  • State Roles and Partnerships
  • Pediatric Workforce
• AAP Priorities Within Health Reform Implementation: Combined Fact Sheet Packet

• All AAP Federal Testimony
• AAP Statement on the Appointment of Pediatrician Dr. Donald Berwick to Lead Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services (CMS) (07/07/10)
• AAP Press Statement on House Failure to Increase Federal Medicaid Funding to States (05/28/10)
• AAP Press Statement on Health Reform Law and Children with Pre-existing Conditions (03/29/10)
• AAP Press Statement on Passage of Final Health Reform Legislation (03/25/10)

• Health Reform Op-Ed, Kalamazoo Gazette, Charles Barone II, MD, FAAP, and Lawrence Reynolds, MD, FAAP
• Health Reform Op-Ed, Oregon Live, Mary Brown, MD, FAAP, David Willis, MD, FAAP, and Arthur Jaffe, MD, FAAP
• Health Reform Op-Ed, The South Carolina State, AAP President-Elect O. Marion Burton, MD, FAAP
• Health Reform Blog Post, Georgetown Center for Children and Families Children's Health Policy Blog, AAP President Judith S. Palfrey, MD, FAAP
• Health Reform Op-Ed, Indianapolis Star, Marilyn Bull, MD, FAAP, Sarah M. Stelzner, MD, FAAP, and Dawn Haut, MD, FAAP
• Health Reform Op-Ed, North Carolina News & Observer, AAP Immediate Past President David T. Tayloe, Jr., MD, FAAP
• Health Reform Blogs, The Huffington Post, AAP President Judith S. Palfrey, MD, FAAP
• Health Reform Letter to the Editor, Arlington Advocate, Carole E. Allen, MD, FAAP
• Health Reform Op-Ed, Birmingham News, Carden Johnston, MD, FAAP

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

Every child must have quality health insurance. Quality health insurance should be a right, regardless of income, for every child, pregnant women, their families, and ultimately all individuals. 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. 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. All health plans should have payment rates that assure that children receive all recommended and needed services.