States’ Use of Telehealth to Support Children with Chronic and Complex Needs

Children with chronic and complex needs and their families experience significant barriers to accessing quality care, and many do not receive the care and services they need due to factors such as financial challenges. Lack of access to timely care can lead to adverse health outcomes. Telehealth is an important tool for improving access to care for children with chronic and complex needs who experience serious obstacles to receiving required care, including pediatric specialty care. In fact, evidence shows that the addition of telehealth-based services to comprehensive care can reduce adverse outcomes and health care costs for medically complex children.  

This brief, produced by the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP), highlights state innovations and considerations for delivering care and services via telehealth to children with chronic and complex needs. The brief describes the use of telehealth approaches by states to support primary and integrated care, address pediatric specialty care workforce shortages, and strengthen access to behavioral and mental health services.