Nationally, children’s hospitals serve an essential function in ensuring access to pediatric specialty care for children in military-connected families who are covered by TRICARE, the federal insurance program for active duty service members, veterans and their families. Military families can face certain stressors — deployment, reintegration, frequent relocation and life in remote locations, among others — which can impact their overall health and well-being. As a result, children in military families who are covered by TRICARE are more likely to have special health care needs and to have a behavioral health diagnosis compared to children with other insurance types. These children often rely on the highly specialized pediatric care that can only be found at children’s hospitals. 

Help us speak up for military families served in children’s hospitals today. 

Following a rule change in October 2023, TRICARE changed the way the program pays for outpatient care delivered in children’s hospitals. Fourteen of the 20 largest children’s hospitalsnationwide that care for patients with TRICAREare negatively impactedas a result. TRICARE’s change in policy represents a major departure from the program’s prioritization of ensuring access to care for children in military families, which will also have far-reaching impacts on all children relying on pediatric care in communities with a large population of TRICARE patients. Given the significant military community presence in Colorado,if these cuts are allowed to continue, they could drastically impact access to pediatric specialty care,including to patients stationed at nearby key military bases. Not only will this impact kids’ health but the change also undercuts military morale and erodes mission readiness. 

Fortunately, efforts are already underway to preserve access to pediatric care through the National Defense Authorization Act in Washington, D.C. A coalition of children’s hospitals are advocating for patients and families by asking Congress to reverse this policy change and support the critical services delivered in children’s hospitals. We need your help today to contact your U.S. Senators and amplify the importance of preserving access to care in children’s hospitals for military families and the broader communities that we serve.