Children with public insurance are 22 percent less likely to receive comprehensive primary care than those with private insurance, according to research from the University of Michigan Medical School.

Public insurance programs cover one-third of children, many of whom belong to vulnerable groups, including minorities, the underprivileged and those in poor health. This includes children covered by Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

The study examined the instance of children with public health insurance who reported having a 'medical home,' a model for pediatric primary care endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The medical home approach is designed to facilitate partnerships between patients, parents and care providers. According to the AAP, a medical home is "accessible, continuous, comprehensive, family centered, coordinated, compassionate, and culturally effective."  It is often touted as a method of providing excellent pediatric primary care.