Child Health

Public Health

Summary: Childhood asthma is a serious and chronic health issue that affects one in seven U.S. children andtheir families, compromising their health and quality of life and placing a heavy financial burden onfamilies as well as an enormous strain on the health care system.Treating, managing, and ultimately preventing and reducing the burden of asthma represents acritical test of the ability of the U.S. health system – health insurers, clinical care providers, and publichealth agencies – to work together. Our investigation found that, as a country, we already knowenough to act and improve life for the millions of children living with asthma; we’re just not aiminghigh enough. If we did, the nation would create and put into place an array of policy reforms thattogether could translate into real change.