Fact Sheet: Health Care Reform: What’s in it for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs?

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) contains provisions that are designed to improve major gaps in the health care coverage, financing and delivery system that prevent children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) from accessing health care services or which impose significant financial hardship on their families.  The law is designed to increase coverage, improve benefits and provide important new insurance protections for all Americans. Many of the law’s provisions will impact children, including CYSHCN, and all will be implemented over time. This fact sheet offers a concise description of some of the provisions under ACA that directly impact CYSHCN and offers some thoughts about the role of State Title V MCH and CYSHCN programs in realizing their promise.