CONCLUSION

Reviewing available data regarding children and pediatric health care paints a concerning picture of the health and well-being of children and adolescents in Northeast Texas.

• Northeast Texas children are more likely to be living in poverty and to be food insecure than their counterparts across Texas and the United States.

• If Northeast Texas were its own state, it would rank 51st in the percentage of children who do not have any health insurance access.

• Northeast Texas has higher rates of preterm births and teen births than state and national averages.

• Northeast Texas children have higher rates of child mortality: 61 more children die in Northeast Texas each year than in a population the same size taken from across the state.

• More than 105,000 Northeast Texas children do not have access to a pediatrician in their county.

• Northeast Texas families routinely drive more than 80 miles to access pediatric subspecialty care.

• The entire 42-county area of Northeast Texas has no pediatric intensive care beds.