Spotlight: Dr. Elizabeth Lange, PCMH Kids Co-Director

PCMH Kids co-director Dr. Elizabeth B. Lange weighs-in on how the state’s Pediatric Relief Initiative will help RI pediatric practices and their continued operation through and post-pandemic.

What unique financial challenges have pediatric practices experienced through this pandemic, and how may this impact their capacity? 

Like all medical offices focused on infectious disease safety in the pandemic, pediatric offices implemented reduced patient scheduling, closed waiting rooms, multiple new cleaning protocols, and staff wore personal protection equipment, all of which added tremendous cost to daily business. Since there is no COVID vaccine yet approved for children under 5 years old, pediatric practices must continue prudent infection control measures to keep our patients healthy. Also, the COVID-related increased unemployment rates meant more children became insured by Medicaid, the state’s lowest paying insurer.

How will these Pediatric Relief Funds help pediatric practices in Rhode Island? 

Pediatric practices have always operated on small margins, so the increased costs and diminished revenues experienced during the pandemic have stressed the pediatric healthcare system. The Pediatric Relief Funds provide much needed financial support to cover the gap. For some practices, these Rescue funds literally mean the pediatric office can keep their doors open.

What measures can help demonstrate our pediatric practices are being effectively supported? 

Thanks to support from the first pediatric relief funds in 2020, pediatric vaccination rates returned to pre-pandemic levels. Since these levels declined again in 2021, this program will measure well-child visits and, tangentially, vaccine rates to show improved access to pediatric care. For long-term sustainability, the insurance funding formulas that pay for children’s healthcare needs revamping statewide, but for now, pediatricians and family physicians are quite thankful for this Relief funding.