Children's Special Health Care Services program: Impact of administrative changes on rural needs

This study measured the impact of 1993 Children's Special Health Care Servi ces (CSHCS) program changes on the hearth care needs of rural children with chronic conditions who, in a 1991 study, were found to have significantly higher unmet health care needs compared to their urban counterparts. A foll ow-up survey was conducted in 1994 to 1995. The percentage of rural familie s indicating unmet needs declined for nearly all health-care-related items from 1991 to 1994-1995. The 1993 administrative changes in the CSHCS progra m have improved access to medical care and social support services for rura l families, eliminating much of the urban-rural gap.