The Invisible Waiting Room: How Insurance Status Shapes the Pediatric Dermatology Access Crisis

Children seeking pediatric dermatology care face prolonged waits, and insurance status may impose an additional, undermeasured barrier. Medicaid reimbursement below Medicare rates, combined with lower work relative value units for pediatric encounters, creates financial pressure that disproportionately affects academic centers serving publicly insured children. These barriers contribute to delayed specialty care, emergency department use, and geographic inequities. Sustainable payment parity, payer-stratified access research, teledermatology, and coordinated professional advocacy are needed to improve equitable access.