The nation’s growing shortage of pediatric specialists is leading to monthslong waitlists for children needing care, according to a March 9 report from the Children’s Hospital Association.
The association, which represents more than 200 children’s hospitals, said the shortages have created a crisis.
While the most acute workforce shortage for adult healthcare is primary care clinicians, pediatric healthcare’s worst workforce shortage is among several specialty clinicians, according to the report. In a 2023 survey, children’s hospitals said their most severe workforce shortages were among pediatric neurological, behavioral and mental health specialties.
On average, children waited up to 21 weeks for a medical genetics appointment, more than 20 weeks for a developmental behavioral pediatric visit and 14 weeks for a pediatric neurology appointment, according to the survey.
The pediatric mental health crisis is further straining U.S. healthcare, the report said.
“Currently, there are too few pediatric mental health providers to ensure kids have access to care, including prevention and early intervention, inpatient and outpatient services, and community-based services and supports,” the report said. “Over 55% of children across the country face difficulties obtaining needed mental healthcare.”
The CHA’s report is a federal policy blueprint that advocates for:
- Increased Medicaid reimbursement rates
- More federal funding for the Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education program
- Expanded eligibility and funding in federal scholarship and loan repayment programs for pediatricians
- New criteria for federal provider shortage areas to include more children’s hospitals in existing workforce programs
- Increased pediatrician participation in current behavioral health workforce programs
- Reduced administrative barriers that lead to burnout.
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