The result of a year-long investigation, a new report, entitled Changing pO2licy: The Elements for Improving Childhood Asthma Outcomes, from The George Washington University, School of Public Health and Health Services supported by the RCHN Community Health Foundation and the Merck Childhood Asthma Network, Inc. finds that more than 1 million children with asthma remain uninsured and at risk for inadequate care. Through a series of moving personal stories, the following video brings into focus the scope and severity of the escalating problem of childhood asthma – the single most common chronic disease among children.

WASHINGTON D.C. – Researchers from The George Washington University, School of Public Health and Health Services (GW) said today that asthma, a largely manageable and chronic disease, is on the rise in America and released new data on the magnitude of the asthma crisis, the surging cost of treatment, and the more than 1 million children with asthma who are uninsured. A new report from GW, Changing pO2licy: The Elements for Improving Childhood Asthma Outcomes, found that asthma adds about 50 cents to every health care dollar spent on children with asthma compared to children without asthma. Those most at risk – low income, medically underserved, and African-American and Hispanic children – have the least access to preventive care and the most visits to the ER. The report was supported by the RCHN Community Health Foundation and the Merck Childhood Asthma Network, Inc.

RCHN Community Health Foundation’s executive vice president/chief operating officer Feygele Jacobs will be one of the leaders of an expert roundtable regarding America’s progress and prospects on childhood asthma. The roundtable will be held on February 23, 2010 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, Room SVC 209/208, in Washington, D.C.