In the five boroughs and Long Island, diaper access has become a public health and equity issue as families in socially and economically challenged communities face rising costs, healthcare and safety net cuts, and growing financial strain that leaves essential infant supplies out of reach.
Healthix data, together with insights from community partners and other data sources, revealed a clear pattern: when families lack access to diapers, wipes, and skin barrier supplies, preventable diaper rash can escalate into painful infections. Too often, caregivers with no affordable alternatives turn to the emergency department for treatment of a condition that could have been prevented with basic supplies. This is a clear policy gap: diapers and wipes are routinely covered through managed long-term care for older adults, yet infants ages 0 to 3 are not afforded the same basic preventive support during their most vulnerable years.
Addressing this gap is not only compassionate but cost-effective. Preventive access to essential hygiene supplies reduces avoidable emergency department visits, lowers downstream medical costs, and alleviates strain on New York’s healthcare system, without shifting additional financial burden onto taxpayers. By investing in low-cost, preventive supplies, we can reduce crisis-driven care for parents and improve health outcomes for children.
No family should end up in the emergency department because they cannot afford diapers.
As part of our mission, Healthix and our community partners are working to advance policy that recognizes diapers, wipes, and skin barrier supplies as essential health-related social needs. By integrating diaper access into Medicaid managed care benefits through in-lieu-of and value-added benefits, we can help prevent avoidable emergency department visits, improve infant health, and support families before a preventable condition becomes a crisis.
Join us in advancing this important work. Learn more about the Maternal and Infant Health Equity Collaborative: https://healthix.org/mihec/contact-us/
