Adolescent health spending and measures in state Title V Maternal and Child Health Programs.

Abstract

This study examines how state public health agencies report using Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant funds to improve the health of adolescents. The Title V Information System was analyzed to identify state level expenditures allocated to pediatric primary and preventive care and to identify measures that monitor adolescents' primary and preventive health care as defined by adolescent clinical preventive guidelines such as Bright Futures and Guidelines for Adolescent Preventive Services. Most states do not report expending 30 percent or more on primary and preventive care, nor do they report measuring adolescents' receipt of primary or preventive health services.