Access to pediatric inpatient care declines

The declining number of available pediatric beds, coupled with a workforce shortage in skilled nursing and a skyrocketing mental health crisis among children and adolescents, are limiting pediatric care access. Rural hospitals and pediatricians are decreasing, forcing families to travel for care. Another factor: physician Medicaid reimbursement is at a lower rate for children than adults. In the years leading up to the pandemic, 40 states lost pediatric beds, and only 37% of hospitals offered pediatric beds in 2020 due to decreased demand. However, in the fall of 2022, the flu and other respiratory viruses caused a surge in children’s hospitalizations. Increased funding and expanded telehealth could improve access to timely pediatric inpatient care. (CNN article, 3/17/23)