"The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) applauds the US Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS) on the newly released preventive services interim final rule. The
regulation mandates coverage of clinically appropriate health services for children and promises
to be a major improvement in promoting the health and well-being of America’s children.
“Prevention is the heart of pediatric medicine. The mission of pediatric care is to promote and
monitor the physical, mental and behavioral health of children at every stage of development.
Recognizing that children are not just little adults, the rule mandates that all health plans cover
all Bright Futures services. Supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration,
Bright Futures is the definitive standard of pediatric well-child and preventive care developed by
an evidence-informed, active collaboration led by the AAP.
“This rule is a major victory for children and their families. The interim rule states clearly that all
components of pediatric well-child visits – including physical exams, immunizations, hearing
and vision screening, developmental and behavioral screening, and anticipatory guidance—in
accordance with the Bright Futures schedule must be free of financial barriers, including
copayments and deductibles.
“The importance of these services for children and young adults cannot be overstated. This
interim rule is a significant investment in the health and future of all our children. The Academy
looks forward to working with HHS to ensure that the rule is implemented appropriately so that
all children receive these much-needed services.”
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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. For more information, visit www.aap.org.