Bright Futures New Topic  Nomination Form

Any individual or an organization may nominate a topic for Bright Futures to evaluate and consider for a future recommendation. To nominate a topic, please complete the form.  Additional information about how Bright Futures evaluates topics for recommendation can be found below.  

Bright Futures   

The Bright Futures program creates and shares national clinical guidelines for pediatric health supervision visits. The guidelines guide pediatric healthcare professionals delivering preventive services to infants, children, youth, and young adults from birth to age 21. This program within the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Under The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, select insurers and group health plans must include fully covered preventative care and screening services in HRSA supported guidelines, including the Bright Futures recommendations.  

The Bright Futures recommendations are outlined in two resources: 1) Bright Futures/AAP Recommendations for Preventive Pediatric Health Care (Periodicity Schedule), and 2) Bright Futures Guidelines for Health Supervision Visits (Bright Futures Guidelines). The Periodicity Schedule is comprised of a schedule of screening exams, assessments, and preventive interventions recommended at each of the 31 age-based visits. The Bright Futures Guidelines provide health care professionals with background information and recommendations for pediatric health promotion, health supervision, and anticipatory guidance for 31 age-based visits.  

Bright Futures Recommendations  

Recommendations are continually reviewed and updated in a process directed by Bright Futures advisory groups (independent, clinical experts), the AAP Committee on Practice and Ambulatory Medicine, and through collaboration with HRSA and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB).   

Recommendations are age-specific, based on the best scientific evidence available, and intended to increase the quality of primary and preventive care. The care described by Bright Futures contributes to positive child health outcomes through health promotion and anticipatory guidance, disease prevention, and early detection of disease. Preventive services provide an opportunity to improve child health outcomes, which represent physical and emotional well-being and optimal functioning at home, in school, and in the community.

A topic nomination may:  

• Suggest a new preventive service topic. The topic should not be currently included in the Recommendations for Preventive Pediatric Health Care (Periodicity Schedule) or the Bright Futures Guidelines and should be supported by evidence. 
• Nominations for new topics are accepted at any time and will be considered by Bright Futures advisory groups at regularly scheduled meetings throughout the year.