The American Academy of Pediatrics Involvement in Health Care Financing

Abstract

In what is considered one of the most important books of the past decade—Future Shock—Alvin Toffler¹ describes the sickness that befalls an individual, an organization, or a nation when it is overwhelmed by rapid changes. He asserts that two actions must be initiated if "future shock" is to be minimized. They are (1) make the best assumptions possible about the future, and (2) undertake to control change.

The health care field in the '70s faces many complex and difficult problems. Removing the financial barriers to comprehensive health care for all is but one of these formidable problems. Unquestionably, other problems involving the quality, quantity, efficiency and distribution of health care delivery require continued attention and should be resolved concurrently with the development of methods to finance comprehensive health care for all.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS (AAP) COMMITTEE ON THIRD PARTY PAYMENT PLANS

In October 1956 the AAP appointed a Committee on Medical Care Plans. This committee was active until 1962 and was then dormant until 1964. At that time, the Council on Pediatric Practice was established in response to urgings of a number of Fellows that more consideration be given to the problems of the practice of pediatrics and its socioeconomic aspects. The Executive Board charged the council to concern itself with the delivery by pediatricians of the best possible care for the greatest number of children. At its first meeting in 1964, the council determined that the two items needing most urgent attention were the development of standards for child health care and the problems relating to various third party payment health plans, both private and governmental.