Length of Time Since Last Routine Health Check-Up

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Definition: Percentage of youth ages 12-17 reporting the length of time since their last physical or routine health check-up (e.g., in 2013-2014, 11% of California youth ages 12-17 reported that they did not have a physical or check-up in the past year).
Data Source: UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, California Health Interview Survey (Dec. 2015).
Footnote: These estimates are based on a survey of the population and are subject to both sampling and nonsampling error. LNE (Low Number Event) refers to data that have been suppressed because the sample size was lower than 50 or the estimate was less than 0.1%. N/A means that data are not available. For more information about the California Health Interview Survey and for detailed margins of error around specific data points, see http://www.chis.ucla.edu.

Learn More About Health Care

Measures of Health Care on Kidsdata.org

Kidsdata.org's health care measures include:

Children ages 0-17 for whom needed health care was delayed or not received in the previous 12 months
Youth ages 12-17 by the length of time since their last routine health check-up
Children ages 0-17 who visited the emergency room in the previous 12 months, by type of insurance coverage
Children ages 0-17 uninsured at any point in the previous 12 months
The usual source of health care for children ages 0-17, by income level and race/ethnicity
Children ages 0-17 with and without health insurance, by type of coverage (public or private), age group, and race/ethnicity (see list)*
Children and youth ages 0-21 with Medicaid (Medi-Cal), CHIP, or other means-tested public health insurance (see list); also, for California and U.S. only, coverage by age group and race/ethnicity†
Total yearly enrollment in Medicaid (Medi-Cal) and CHIP among children ages 0-18 (California and U.S. only)
Medi-Cal enrollment among children and youth ages 0-21 in January of each year; also, for California only, average monthly enrollment by age group and race/ethnicity
Children ages 0-17 who receive care within a medical home (see list)‡
The number of school-based or -linked health centers serving public schools
The extent to which students are provided adequate health services at school, as reported by staff

* Public health insurance includes both means-tested coverage (e.g., Medicaid/Medi-Cal, CHIP) and non-means-tested coverage (e.g., Dept. of Defense TRICARE, Indian Health Service). Means testing considers financial circumstances in determining eligibility.

† Medicaid is a federal program providing health coverage to eligible low-income children and families; Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program. CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) is a federal program providing coverage to children/youth up to age 19 in families with incomes too high to qualify them for Medicaid, but too low to afford private coverage. California’s CHIP program was called the Healthy Families Program (HFP). Although California continues to receive CHIP funding, in 2013 HFP enrollees were transitioned into Medi-Cal.

‡ According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a medical home is a model of delivering primary care that is “accessible, continuous, comprehensive, family-centered, coordinated, compassionate, and culturally effective.”

Related Data

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Characteristics of Children with Special Needs

Access to Services for Children with Special Needs

Children's Emotional Health

Insurance Coverage for Children with Special Health Care Needs

Quality of Care for Children with Special Health Care Needs

Dental Care

Length of Time Since Last Dental Visit

Hospitalizations

Hospital Discharges
- by Primary Diagnosis
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Immunizations

Youth Suicide and Self-Inflicted Injury

Self-Inflicted Injury Hospitalizations
- by Age

Injuries

Prenatal Care

Infants Whose Mothers Received Prenatal Care in the First Trimester
- by Race/Ethnicity of Mother

Why This Topic Is Important

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, every child should receive high quality health care that is accessible, family-centered, culturally competent, coordinated, continuous, compassionate, and comprehensive (1). This care is best offered through a medical home, an ongoing family-centered partnership with a child health professional or team, in which all of the patient’s needs are met (1). Children who receive care in the context of a medical home are more likely to have regular preventive check-ups (which can lead to the early identification and treatment of problems) and are less likely to have emergency room visits (1). However, the latest estimates indicate that less than half of children receive care within a medical home, statewide and nationally (2). Not surprisingly, children without health insurance are less likely to access needed care than those with coverage (3). While the number of insured children has increased in recent years, some remain uninsured and many are at risk of losing coverage if investments in public insurance programs are not maintained (3).

One convenient way for children and youth to access needed services is through school-based health centers (SBHCs). These centers, whether located on school property or in the vicinity of a school, offer a range of services to underserved or uninsured students, such as primary medical care, mental or behavioral health care, dental care, substance abuse services, and health and nutrition education. More than 2,300 SBHCs operate nationwide (4). These centers have become a key part of the health care delivery system, as children and youth spend a significant amount of time at school, and barriers such as transportation and scheduling are reduced. SBHCs can lead to improved access to medical and dental care, health outcomes, and school performance (5, 6). They also reduce emergency room visits and health care costs (5, 6).

For more information on health care, see kidsdata.org’s Research & Links section.

Sources for this narrative:

1. National Center for Medical Home Implementation. (2017). Why is medical home important? American Academy of Pediatrics. Retrieved from: https://medicalhomeinfo.aap.org/overview/Pages/Evidence.aspx

2. As cited on kidsdata.org, Receipt of care within a medical home (regions of 65,000 residents or more) (2018). National Survey of Children's Health.

3. Schneider, L., et al. (2016). The Affordable Care Act and children’s coverage in California: Our progress and our future. The Children’s Partnership. Retrieved from: http://www.childrenspartnership.org/research-list/the-affordable-care-act-and-childrens-coverage-in-california-our-progress-and-our-future

4. School-Based Health Alliance. (n.d.). National school-based health care census. Retrieved from: http://www.sbh4all.org/school-health-care/national-census-of-school-based-health-centers

5. American Academy of Pediatrics Council on School Health. (2012). School-based health centers and pediatric practice. Pediatrics, 129(2), 387-393. Retrieved from: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/129/2/387

6. Community Preventive Services Task Force. (2015). Promoting health equity through education programs and policies: School-based health centers. Retrieved from: https://www.thecommunityguide.org/findings/promoting-health-equity-through-education-programs-and-policies-school-based-health-centers

How Children Are Faring

In 2016, 97% of California children ages 0-17 were estimated to have some form of health insurance coverage—up from 91% in 2009—yet gaps remained. For example, more than 6% of American Indian/Alaska Native children were uninsured in 2016, compared to less than 4% for all other racial/ethnic groups with data.

In the same year, an estimated 42% of California children and youth ages 0-21 had Medicaid (Medi-Cal), CHIP, or other means-tested public health insurance coverage, with enrollment estimates highest for infants (47%) and lowest for young adults ages 18-21 (31%). Statewide, coverage for African American/black and Hispanic/Latino groups was higher than 50% in 2016, whereas estimates for Asian/Pacific Islander and white children/youth were lower than 28%. In the 2016 federal fiscal year, total yearly enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP among California children ages 0-17 was 720 per 1,000, more than 20% higher than the national rate of 590 per 1,000.

Parent reports from 2016 show that 42% of the state's children receive care within a medical home, compared to 49% nationwide. In California counties with data, estimates of children receiving care within a medical home ranged from 33% (Imperial) to 50% (Placer).

In 2013-14, an estimated 88% of California youth ages 12-17 received a routine health check-up within the past 12 months, up from about 77% in 2001. However, about 7% of all California children—and 10% of lower-income children—had no usual source of health care in 2013-14. Estimates by race/ethnicity ranged from 5% (multiracial and white) to 11% (African American/black) with no usual source of care. Among children who did have a regular source of care, the majority (63%) used a doctor’s office or HMO, rather than hospitals, clinics, urgent care, emergency rooms, or other settings. For children living below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, only 48% used a doctor’s office or HMO, compared to 77% for children from higher-income families.

School health centers provide access to health care for many children. In 2018, California had 258 school health centers, up from 153 in 2009. However, nearly half of the state's counties (27 of 58) did not have any school health centers in 2018. When asked whether their school provides adequate health services for students, 23% of responses from elementary school staff, 20% of responses by middle school staff, 19% of responses by high school staff, and 25% of responses by staff at non-traditional schools reported strong agreement in 2013-2015.

Policy Implications

Children with health insurance are more likely to receive needed medical care, are less likely to have costly hospitalizations, and tend to perform better in school than their uninsured peers (1). Providing quality, accessible, and affordable health care to all children requires comprehensive insurance coverage and an appropriately trained and compensated provider base including a sufficient number of subspecialists; it also requires effective systems of care including medical homes and parental understanding about what care is needed and how to obtain it (2, 3, 4). Immigrant children, especially those with undocumented parents or those who are themselves undocumented, are at particular risk of being uninsured and without regular health care (2, 5).

The 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA), which expanded health care coverage and enacted other major health system changes, has increased the number of insured children in the state and nation (2). California also has enacted numerous policy and program changes in recent years, bolstering coverage and access to health care for millions of children and families (2). While progress has been made, ongoing efforts are needed to maintain these gains and to continue strengthening health care for children, particularly for low-income and vulnerable populations (2).

Policy options that could improve children’s health care include:

Supporting ongoing efforts to ensure continuous insurance coverage for all low-income children, including immigrant children; this includes maintaining and increasing investments in public insurance programs serving children and continuing to improve enrollment processes and community-based outreach to families (2, 5)
Ensuring that every child has access to family-centered, culturally competent, and coordinated care within a medical home, particularly children with chronic conditions (3, 6)
Increasing the number of health care providers serving children in Medi-Cal (California's Medicaid program) by improving financial incentives, and ensuring that reimbursement for pediatric visits covers the time required to focus on child/youth development and family-centered care (2, 4, 6)
Ensuring that there is an adequate number of pediatric specialty care providers and that pediatricians are trained on management of care for children with special health care needs, medical home implementation, and culturally effective pediatric practice (3, 4)
Expanding access to health consultation or education for parents/guardians and service providers in programs serving young children, such as child care settings, home-visiting programs, and foster care homes (6)
Monitoring the capacity and financial viability of safety-net providers, such as county hospitals, which are important sources of care for low-income people (7)
Promoting collaboration across sectors—health, education, social services, and others—to improve prevention, early intervention, and treatment services for children, and supporting a comprehensive approach to health care that goes beyond treating illness to addressing community factors that impact health, such as access to healthy food or safe housing; this could help reduce health inequities at the population level and lower costs related to preventable conditions (8, 9)

For more policy ideas and research on this topic, see kidsdata.org's Research & Links section or visit the California HealthCare Foundation, the National Academy for State Health Policy, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Sources for this narrative:

1. Child Trends DataBank. (n.d.). Health care coverage for children. Retrieved from: https://www.childtrends.org/indicators/health-care-coverage

2. Schneider, L., et al. (2016). The Affordable Care Act and children’s coverage in California: Our progress and our future. The Children’s Partnership. Retrieved from: http://www.childrenspartnership.org/research-list/the-affordable-care-act-and-childrens-coverage-in-california-our-progress-and-our-future

3. National Center for Medical Home Implementation. (2017). Why is medical home important? American Academy of Pediatrics. Retrieved from: https://medicalhomeinfo.aap.org/overview/Pages/Evidence.aspx

4. American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Pediatric Workforce. (2013). Pediatrician workforce policy statement. Pediatrics, 132(2), 390-397. Retrieved from: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/132/2/390

5. American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Community Pediatrics. (2013). Providing care for immigrant, migrant, and border children. Pediatrics, 131(6), e2028-e2034. Retrieved from: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/131/6/e2028

6. Kossen, J., & Rosman, E. (2012). Leading the way to a strong beginning: Ensuring good physical health of our infants and toddlers. Zero to Three. Retrieved from: https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/996-leading-the-way-to-a-strong-beginning-ensuring-good-physical-health-of-our-infants-and-toddlers

7. McConville, S. (2018). California's future: Health care. Public Policy Institute of California. Retrieved from: http://www.ppic.org/main/publication.asp?i=1020

8. Halfon, N., et al. (2014). The changing nature of children’s health development: New challenges require major policy solutions. Health Affairs, 33(12), 2116-2124. Retrieved from: https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2014.0944

9. Arkin, E., et al. (Eds.). (2014). Time to act: Investing in the health of our children and communities. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America. Retrieved from: http://www.rwjf.org/en/research-publications/find-rwjf-research/2014/01/recommendations-from-the-rwjf-commission-to-build-a-healthier-am.html

Research & Links

Websites with Related Information

California Coverage & Health Initiatives
California Health Care Foundation
California School-Based Health Alliance
Center for Children and Families, Georgetown University Health Policy Institute
Center for Health and Health Care in Schools, George Washington University
Family Health Outcomes Project, University of California, San Francisco
Health Affairs
Health Insurance and Access to Care for Children and Adolescents Knowledge Path, National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health
National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP)
National Center for Medical Home Implementation, American Academy of Pediatrics
Prevention Institute
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Building a Culture of Health
Social Determinants of Health: Know What Affects Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Children's Partnership: Health Care
The Commonwealth Fund
UCLA Center for Health Policy Research

Key Reports and Research

A New Pediatrics for a New Century, 2013, Pediatrics, Lantos, J. D., & Ward, N. A.
Aiming Higher: Results from the Commonwealth Fund Scorecard on State Health System Performance, 2017 Edition, The Commonwealth Fund, Radley, D. C., et al.
California Snapshot of Children's Coverage: How Medicaid, CHIP, and the ACA Cover Children, 2017, Georgetown University Center for Children and Families & American Academy of Pediatrics
California's Future: Health Care, 2018, Public Policy Institute of California, McConville, S.
Caring for Children, 2014, Health Affairs, Weil, A. R.
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP): Accomplishments, Challenges, and Policy Recommendations, 2014, Pediatrics, American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Child Health Financing
Children’s Health Programs in California: Promoting a Lifetime of Health and Well-Being, 2015, California Budget and Policy Center, Schumacher, K.
Enhancing Pediatric Workforce Diversity and Providing Culturally Effective Pediatric Care: Implications for Practice, Education, and Policy Making, 2015, Pediatrics, American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Pediatric Workforce
How Does California Perform on the Quality of Health Care for Children Enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP?, 2016, Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, Brooks, T., et al.
Patient- and Family-Centered Care Coordination: A Framework for Integrating Care for Children and Youth Across Multiple Systems, 2014, Pediatrics, American Academy of Pediatrics, Council on Children with Disabilities & Medical Home Implementation Project Advisory Committee
Policies to Promote Child Health, 2015, The Future of Children
Portrait of Promise: The California Statewide Plan to Promote Health and Mental Health Equity, 2015, California Dept. of Public Health, Office of Health Equity
Promoting Health Equity Through Education Programs and Policies: School-Based Health Centers, 2016, Community Preventive Services Task Force
Providing Care for Immigrant, Migrant, and Border Children, 2013, Pediatrics, American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Community Pediatrics
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Health and Health Care of Children, 2010, Pediatrics, Flores, G., & American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Pediatric Research
School-Based Health Centers and Pediatric Practice, 2012, Pediatrics, American Academy of Pediatrics Council on School Health
The Affordable Care Act and Children’s Coverage in California: Our Progress and Our Future, 2016, The Children's Partnership, Schneider, L., et al.

County/Regional Reports

2014 Solano Children's Report Card, Children's Network of Solano County
2018-19 California County Scorecard of Children's Well-Being, Children Now
Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan, Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Health
Key Indicators of Health by Service Planning Area, 2017, Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Health
Live Well San Diego Report Card on Children, Families, and Community, 2017, The Children's Initiative & Live Well San Diego
Los Angeles: Thriving or Surviving in a Fragmented Market, 2016, California Health Care Foundation, Felland, L., et al.
Orange County Community Indicators Report, Orange County Community Indicators Project
San Mateo County All Together Better
Santa Clara County Children's Agenda: 2018 Data Book, Planned Parenthood & Kids in Common
The 24th Annual Report on the Conditions of Children in Orange County, 2018, Orange County Children's Partnership

More Data Sources For Health Care

2018 KIDS COUNT Data Book, Annie E. Casey Foundation
California Health and Human Services Open Data Portal, California Health and Human Services Agency
California Health Interview Survey, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research
Childstats.gov, Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics
Community Commons: Community Health Needs Assessment
County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation & University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute
Coverage, Access, and Affordability in California: Key ACA Data 2013-2016, California Health Care Foundation
Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health, Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative
Maternal and Child Health Bureau: National Survey Publications and Chartbooks, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services
The Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey, Urban Institute

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