This report from the National Academy for State Health Policy reviews the implications of the Affordabel Care Act for children with special health care needs. It identifies potential opportunities that the ACA provides, while also providing suggestions for the implementation of these opportunities to best target the needs of this population.

From the report:

What does a state policymaker say when the mother of a child with cystic fibrosis or the father of a child with autism asks "what does national health care reform mean for my child?" How can policymakers respond when asked whether the new national law means that children with special health care needs will have insurance coverage for the services they need, at a price families can afford? There are approximately 10.2 million children with special health care needs in this country, with a wide array of diagnoses. The answers to questions families ask about health reform will depend heavily on choices that states make in the context of federal guidance. This paper analyzes the opportunities and challenges in state implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in relation to children with special health care needs (CSHCN)1 and their families, and suggests some steps states can take to make sure ACA coverage works for this vulnerable population.

Full Report: The Affordable Care Act and Children with Special Health Care Needs (PDF | 3.46 MB)

National Academy for State Health Policy. (2011). The Affordable Care Act and children with special health care needs. Farrel, K., Hess, C., and Justice, D.