Child Health Care in the United States: Expenditures and Extent of Coverage With Selected Comprehensive Services

This paper summarizes pertinent data on national health expenditures for children and youth. In fiscal year 1972, the average expenditure per child per year for health care from all sources in the United States was $ 147 for children and youth under 19 years of age, an amount 15% above that for the children and youth projects ($ 128 per child per year). The extent of coverage of children and youth, even those in high-priority groups, is still very restricted. Some implications are suggested for future planning for the use of existing funds currently available for the health care of children and youth.