Healthcare Utilization Patterns Among Children With a History of Child Protective Services Investigations

Purpose: Examine whether children with a prior child protective services (CPS) investigation had different healthcare utilization compared to children without a history of CPS investigations. Methods: The Children's Health Assessment and Planning Survey assessed 6,492 primary caregivers of children ages 0-17 years residing in North Texas in 2015. Caregivers reported prior CPS investigations and child healthcare utilization (emergency department [ED] use, unmet medication needs, and unmet medical care needs). Principle Findings: A total of 408 (5%) caregivers reported their child had a CPS investigation. Children with CPS investigations had greater odds of visiting the ED (OR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.4, 2.5) and not receiving necessary medical care (OR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.4, 2.8) compared to children without a CPS investigation. Conclusions: Prior CPS investigation was associated with disparities in receipt of necessary medical care and ED utilization for children.