A PERSPECTIVE ON COST EFFECTIVENESS in Pediatric Comprehensive Complex Care Service Models
STEPHEN FITTON
INTRODUCTION
As comprehensive service delivery models are being developed to improve care for children with medical complexity (CMC), especially the growing population of the most fragile, financially supporting and sustaining the necessary additional resources their care requires is an almost universal problem. This brief presents evidence on the cost effectiveness of these models and describes the unique challenges in cost effectiveness evaluations for this population. It also points to Medicaid policy opportunities that provide financial support for a developmental period, whether focused on model development or systems building expansion. This information is offered as a resource to help make the financial case for further development and expansion of service delivery models for CMC, with the hope that it will ultimately result in a more cost effective and efficient system of care for this vulnerable population, resulting in better health outcomes.