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Cited by 24Adolescent and Pediatric HealthcareChild and Adolescent HealthFamily and Disability Support Research

Care coordination and unmet need for specialised health services among children with special healthcare needs in the USA: results from a cross-sectional analysis of the national survey of children with special healthcare needs

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Graaf, Genevieve, Gigli, Kristin·2022·BMJ Open
DOI 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-063373PMC PMC9670924
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Abstract

Objective: To report rates of need and unmet need for specialised health services (occupational and speech therapies, durable medical equipment, home healthcare, and mobility and communication aids) from the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) (2009/2010) and assess the role of care coordination in having needs met. We distinguish between CSHCN with and without emotional, behavioural and developmental disorders (EBDPs) in the USA. Design: A cross sectional cohort study of a nationally representative sample of CSHCN from the National Survey of CSHCN for 2009/2010 used logistic regression to assess the relationship between EBDPs and need and unmet need for specialised services. It also estimates the association of care coordination with unmet need for all services, for CSHCN with and without EBDPs. Setting: A nationally representative sample of CSHCN in the USA. Participants: Children ages 0–17 years of age. Results: Across all specialised health services, rates of unmet need were at or below 25%. Need and unmet need for most services was higher among CSHCN with EBDPs than those without. For CSHCN with and without EBDPs, adequate care coordination was associated with greater probability of having needs for therapy, home health and communication aids met. Conclusion: Care coordination is essential to reducing barriers to a wide range of healthcare services for CSCHN. Policies requiring adequate insurance coverage for care coordination may play a critical role in ensuring access to specialised health services.

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  • Receipt of adequate care coordination is associated with increased access to specialized medical care.

    “increased access to specialized medical care (Graaf & Gigli, 2022; Miller, 2014)”

    From Adequate Care Coordination is Associated with Reduced Unmet Mental Health Needs for Children (2026) · cites this paper as Graaf & Gigli, 2022

  • Families who receive professional assistance coordinating care across providers are more likely to access assistive technologies and specialized therapies than those who do not.

    “Families who receive professional assistance coordinating care across providers are more likely to access needed specialist care (Miller, 2014), assistive technologies, and specialized therapies (Graaf & Gigli, 2022) than those who do not.”

    From Adequate Care Coordination is Associated with Reduced Unmet Mental Health Needs for Children (2026) · cites this paper as Graaf & Gigli, 2022

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Graaf, G., & Gigli, K.
Affiliations
The University of Texas at Arlington (US)
Corresponding author
Graaf, Genevieve
ORCID
Venue
BMJ Open
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2022-11
Volume
12
Issue
11
Pages
e063373
ISSN
2044-6055 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1136/bmjopen-2022-063373
PMC
PMC9670924
OpenAlex
W4309126435
Cited by
24
References
6
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 2
FWCI
5.04
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • BMJ Open (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Speech and Hearing › Adolescent and Pediatric Healthcare
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Child and Adolescent Health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Family and Disability Support Research
Keywords
care coordination, unmet health needs, children with special health care needs, occupational therapy, speech therapy, durable medical equipment, home health care, insurance coverage, National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Child, Child Health Services, Child, Preschool, Cross-Sectional Studies, Delivery of Health Care, Health Services Needs and Demand, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, United States, Children with Disabilities

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