Policy & Advocacy
The Nemours Children's National Office of Policy and Prevention (National Office) works to nurture a nation of healthy children by supporting innovative prevention strategies and pediatric health system transformation within our health system and nationally. Nemours’ innovation and expertise serve as our foundation.
As part of the Nemours National Office, the Office of Child Health Policy & Advocacy provides thought leadership and advocacy for federal policies that support children’s health, well-being and development. Our team works to catalyze and promote sustainable federal policy changes in the areas of:
- Pediatric Health System Transformation
- Social Determinants of Health
- Strategic Business Interests
Policy Papers
- Aligning Efforts to Achieve Equitable Mental, Emotional and Behavioral Health and Well-Being for Children and Youth (PDF)
- Promoting Health in Early Care and Education Policy Brief (PDF)
- Pediatric Mental, Emotional and Behavioral Health: Federal Policy Recommendations for Congress and the Executive Branch (PDF)
- Caring for the Whole Child: A New Way to Finance Initiatives to Improve Children's Health and Well-Being (PDF)
- Pediatric Value-Based Care and Social Drivers: Emerging Examples (PDF)
- Executive Summary — Pediatric Value-Based Care and Social Drivers (PDF)
- Pediatric Value-Based Care and Social Drivers: Recommendations (PDF)
- Spurring Innovation: The Role of Child Health Policy (PDF)
- Roadmap for Action: Advancing the Adoption of Telehealth in Child Care Centers and Schools to Promote Children’s Health and Well-Being (PDF)
- Defining an Accountable Community for Health for Children and Families (PDF)
- Case Study — Nationwide Children’s Hospital: An Accountable Care Organization Going Upstream to Address Population Health (PDF)
- Accountable Communities for Health for Children and Families: Approaches for Catalyzing and Accelerating Success (PDF)
- Data Sharing Across Child-Serving Sectors: Key Lessons and Resources (PDF)
Blog & Policy Op-Eds
- Advocacy Is Care — How a Nemours Resident Is Making a Difference
- Fewer mothers and babies are dying in New Jersey but too many are still at risk
- Nemours Children's Health Joins White House Effort to Address Hunger, Nutrition and Health
- Pediatric Mental Health Roundtable: Federal Policy Recommendations
- Speak Now for Kids-Family Advocacy Day
- More Resources Needed for America's Youth Mental Health Crisis
- Maternal and Child Health Legislation Must Be Prioritized Now
- Reduce Childhood Poverty to Build Back Better for the Next Generation
- Pediatric Mental, Emotional and Behavioral Health: Federal Policy Recommendations for Congress and the Executive Branch
- Building Back Healthier: Improving Food, Nutrition, and Physical Activity Could Transform the Early Care and Education System
- We Must Collect Vaccine Data to Protect Future Generations
- Delaware's kids can get the services they need — if Biden leads. Here's why
- Creating an Agenda For Children's Resiliency And Health
- Caring for Kids in the COVID-19 Era
- Giving Infants a Stronger Start
- COVID-19 and Telehealth Revolution Policy Bariers — Standing in the Way of Transforming Care
- Seeking State’s Help for Florida’s Sickest Children
- Supporting Patient-Centered Research
- Nemours Children’s CEO Calls for CMS to Push Smarter Strategies for Children’s Health
- Spurring Innovation: The Role of Child Health Policy
- Realizing the Promise of Telehealth for Children
- Precision Medicine Saves Lives: One Family’s Story
- What’s the Big Deal About Precision Medicine
- Supporting Parents to Help Children Thrive
Public Comments
2023
Nemours Children’s Health submitted public comments in support of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) proposed updates to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food package. WIC provides critical supports to moms and babies, including access to quality nutrition, to help young children grow up healthy.
2022
Nemours responded to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services request for information on accessing health care, understanding provider experiences, advancing health equity, and assessing the impact of waivers and flexibilities provided in response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.
Nemours provides feedback in response to the Administration’s request for information (RFI) on future requirements related to surprise billing, particularly related to the issuance of Good Faith Estimates (GFEs) and Advanced Explanations of Benefits (AEOBs) for patients with insurance coverage.
Nemours responded to the request for information from the U.S. Department of the Treasury regarding the Social Impact Partnerships to Pay for Results Act program.
Nemours Children’s Health provides public comments in response to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ proposed rule to streamline application, eligibility, determination, enrollment and renewal processes for Medicaid, CHIP and the Basic Health Program (BHP).
Nemours provided recommendations to strenghthen the Centers for Medicare and Medical Services' (CMS) August 2022 proposal to require mandatory reporting of core Measure Sets.
Nemours recommended extending current, temporary telehealth flexibilities made possible under the Public Health Emergency.
- Mental Health Testimony (PDF)
Nemours submitted testimony for the Senate Finance Committee hearing record for its February 15, 2022 hearing entitled Protecting Youth Mental Health: Part II — Identifying and Addressing Barriers to Care.
2021
Nemours encouraged the Administration to utilize big data, prioritize reducing health disparities in the pediatric population, and improve diversity and inclusion in research.
- OMB Equity RFI (PDF)
Nemours encouraged the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to reduce disparities through the creation of a White House Office on Children and Youth, and a federal Children’s Cabinet.
Nemours encouraged the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to reduce disparities through the use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning with safeguards to protect personal health information.
2020
Nemours encouraged the Administration to address health inequities in maternal and child health outcomes by focusing on social determinants of health as the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) finalizes its strategic plan.
2019
Nemours encouraged the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create a more consistent compliance landscape and to provide further guidance on the interdependencies across state and federal privacy regulations.
2018
Nemours responded to the Administration’s proposal that could impact Medicaid coverage and nutrition benefits for children. Nemours’ comments focused on the potential impact on the health, development, and well-being of children and families.
Nemours encouraged the Administration to recognize the unique health care needs of the pediatric population and to consider access to pediatric care as essential to children’s health as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalizes its MCO rule.
2017
Nemours encouraged CMMI to focus on pediatric test models.
Nemours responded with recommendations for CMS to consider areas of payment system redesign and health information exchange as CMS revises its Medicare payment policies.
Key Letters
2023
2022
2021
- Response to Cassidy-Murphy RFI on Federal Mental Health, Substance Use Disorder Programs (PDF)
- Nemours Response to Senate Finance Committee Mental Health RFI (PDF)
- Recommendations for the Build Back Better Budget Reconciliation Package (PDF)
- COVID-19 Priorities for the 117th Congress (PDF)
2020
2019
- Recommendations to the Congressional Telehealth Caucus to Expand Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring Services (PDF)
- Removing Barriers to Care for Children with Medical Complexity via the ACE Kids Act (PDF)
2018
- Addressing Potential Changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the Farm Bill (PDF)
- Advocating for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) and Pediatric Telehealth Provisions in the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (PDF)
- Key Recommendations to the Senate Finance Committee for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) (PDF)
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