Medicaid and CHIP insure nearly half of pediatric hospitalizations in the U.S., with significant impact on rural hospitals and children with complex conditions. Policy changes risk access and financial stability.

In 2024, over four million U.S. children were uninsured, the highest rate in a decade, worsening pediatric cancer diagnosis delays and mortality. Fragmented insurance and Medicaid enrollment gaps drive coverage loss.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends delaying the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine for most U.S. infants, impacting vaccination schedules and healthcare policy.