Washington D.C. – A report released today finds that many American adolescents are suffering from unmet physical, reproductive, and behavioral health needs due to failings of our nation’s heath system. The report finds that many adolescents are uninsured and have limited options for purchasing insurance that meets their unique health needs. Entitled Health Reform & Adolescents, the report also explores the issues of patient confidentiality, finding that the vast majority of health insurance agencies violate adolescents’ privacy by mailing home an explanation of benefits statement for services billed by providers. This often discloses sensitive and confidential services such as STD screenings and treatment.
Further, the analysis finds that, in addition to limiting mental health benefits, private health insurance arrangements commonly exclude coverage for key child and adolescent behavioral conditions such as learning disorders, autism, impulse control disorders, relational or abuse related problems, and child psychosis.
The study analyzes adolescents between the ages of 12 to 21, finding that although these individuals are generally thought to be a healthy population, they have morbidity and mortality rates twice those of younger children. Today 26 percent of adolescents have a sexually transmitted disease, 21 percent have a diagnosed mental health condition, and 17 percent are obese. Further, adolescents have high rates of risk-taking behaviors, such as unprotected sex, drug and alcohol use, tobacco use, and poor nutritional habits.
The report, authored by Harriette Fox and Margaret McManus of the National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health, goes on to explain that many adolescents are not receiving appropriate care to address these needs because they lack insurance coverage.
According to the report, 16 percent of adolescents between the ages 12 to 21 are uninsured through the year, a number far higher than younger children. An equally important problem is that the current health system is not structured to address their needs. There is a severe shortage of adolescent psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers. And, only a small percentage of pediatricians report feeling that they are well trained to care for this population. Further, health insurance, including Medicaid, is not structured to support the care required to fully address the health concerns of adolescents.
“Young people between the ages of 12 and 21 are at a critical point in their development. Interventions to address any health problems they face and measures to set them on a path towards a healthy future make a significant difference in their lives,” said Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus, the bipartisan child advocacy organization that commissioned the report. “As we restructure our nation’s health care system, this report brings to mind additional questions about confidentiality and access to mental health services. We urge Congress to address these issues by ensuring that any health reform package considered includes increased access to coverage for adolescents while improving the system in a manner that responds earlier and more effectively to their unique needs.”
As Congress works to achieve health reform for all Americans, the report urges its Members to consider the following recommendations to improve the health of adolescents:
Ensure that all adolescents up to age 21 have affordable, appropriate, and high quality health insurance coverage.
Ensure that health insurance coverage for adolescents is structured to cover the services adolescents require to improve their health status, that coverage places greater emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention, and that payment policies under Medicaid and CHIP are consistent with this objective.
Provide federal support for comprehensive adolescent health centers, including, but not limited to, school-based clinics, and structure payment incentives to support the development of these models.
Support major reforms in pediatric training in the care of adolescents and expand the child and adolescent mental health workforce.
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Click here to download a copy of the report.