Summary
This study evaluated the impact of clinic-based financial coaching on adherence to recommended preventive care pediatric visits and vaccinations in the first 6 months of life.
Authors examined the impact of the longitudinal financial intervention delivered by trained coaches addressing parent-identified, strengths-based financial goals (employment, savings, public benefits enrollment, etc.). They also examined social needs screening and resource referral on rates of missed preventive care pediatric visits and vaccinations through the 6-month well-child visit.
Findings: Eighty-one parent-infant dyads were randomized (35 intervention, 46 control); nearly all parents were mothers and more than one-half were Latina. The rate of missed visits among those randomized to clinic-based financial coaching was half that of controls. Intervention participants were more likely to have up-to-date immunizations each visit with fewer missed vaccinations by the end of the 6-month preventive care visit period.
A medical-financial partnership embedding financial coaching within pediatric primary care improved low-income families’ adherence to recommended visits and vaccinations. Clinic-based financial coaching may improve care continuity and quality in the medical home.