Below is a release on a policy statement appearing in the January issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

For Release: December 29, 2008, 12:01 am (ET)

A new AAP policy statement recommends improved health plan payment for adolescent preventive, reproductive and behavioral care with optimal benefit design to address the comprehensive health care needs of adolescents. Nearly 14 percent of adolescents are uninsured, and many more underinsured, with 40 percent of adolescent health expenses paid out of pocket. The new policy statement, "Underinsurance of Adolescents: Recommendations for Improved Coverage of Preventive, Reproductive, and Behavioral Health Care Services," outlines the challenges to optimal health plan coverage for adolescent care including issues related to inadequate payment, uncompensated care for confidential reproductive services, and disproportionate rejection by insurers of certain billing and diagnostic codes. The policy statement lists strategies focusing on the need for insurers to improve coverage of preventive, reproductive and behavioral care.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.