People with special needs are people who have or are at increased risk for a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition and who also require health and related services beyond those required by people generally.
In public health terms, people with special health care needs are considered a vulnerable population, since they have a shorter life expectancy, are more likely to engage in dangerous or risky behaviors and are often isolated from a system of support.
Children With Special Healthcare Needs Issue Brief
View the Children With Special Healthcare Needs Issue Brief
Rhode Island Medical Home Portal
The Medical Home Portal is a unique source of reliable information about children and youth with special health care needs, offering a “one-stop shop” for their families, physicians and medical home teams, and other professionals and caregivers. For more information on the Rhode Island Medical Home Portal, you can watch this short video and check out the Medical Home Portal brochure.
Rhode Island Medical Home Portal