Issues specific to CSHCN

The parents of children identified as having a special health care need were asked questions about access to: physical, occupational, or speech therapy, durable medical supplies, care coordination, home health care, genetic counseling, respite care and family counseling.

Two percent of CSHCN, estimated at between 2,400 and 3,000 children in Iowa, were unable to receive physical/occupational therapy, home health, or durable medical supplies at some time in the previous year. While much of this unmet need was due to cost, there were other barriers depending on the type of service. For example, 53 percent of those with unmet need for physical, occupational, or speech therapy did not believe these services were available in their area. Just over one-quarter of those with unmet need for medical supplies and home health did not believe they were available in their area. Seventy percent of those with unmet need for medical supplies reported that lack of insurance coverage was the reason why they could not receive needed services.
Twelve percent of children received care coordination, and about two percent of CSHCN (about 2,500 children) reported unmet need for this service. Two percent of children had families reporting a need for respite services, with 80 percent of those children's families able to receive the service. Four percent of children were in families reporting need for genetic counseling, and just over half received it. Fifteen percent of CSHCN were in families that were in need of mental health care, and about 20 percent of these families (about 3,800 families) were unable to receive it.