The Impact of the Evolving Health Care System on Pediatric Emergency Care.

This article discusses the implications of health care reform on the pediatric emergency department (ED). The author briefly discusses the health care costs and outcomes in the United States in comparison to other developed nations. The article discusses the impact of the Affordable Care Act and insurance expansion on the pediatric ED. Then the article addresses the impacts of the growing patient financial responsibility on ED use. There will be a discussion of the development of pediatric accountable care organizations and how payment mechanisms are evolving, and the challenges the pediatric ED may face in these new payment strategies.