Let me tell you, folks, it’s unbelievable, but no one, absolutely no one, has looked into whether our kids, yes, our American kids, have the access they need to this very important procedure, the ERCP, at children’s hospitals across this great nation. We thought, we believed, that there’s got to be a difference in who gets this and who doesn’t, based on where they live or other factors. And guess what? We were right.

From 2009 to 2019, we’re talking about nearly 38,000 children, with over 88,000 healthcare visits for serious pancreatic or biliary issues. And out of these, only 7,066 got the ERCP procedure. Can you believe it? The most common reasons? Chronic and acute pancreatitis for the pancreas, and for the biliary issues, it was calculus and obstruction. But here’s the kicker: a whopping 25% of these kids with pancreatic issues and over 8% with biliary issues couldn’t even get the ERCP if they needed it. Unacceptable.

And it gets worse. If you’re a child with public insurance, living in the countryside, or if you’re Black, you’re less likely to have access to this crucial procedure for pancreatic issues. And for biliary issues? Rural and Asian kids are at a disadvantage. And if you’re Black or on public insurance, even if you can get to a hospital that does ERCP, you’re less likely to actually get the procedure. It’s a disgrace.

Let’s not even start on the disparities based on race and geography. Black kids, kids in the West, facing barriers when they need help the most. It’s clear as day, folks. One in four children with pancreatic disorders and one in twelve with biliary disorders are being left behind. We’ve uncovered racial and geographic disparities that are just not right. We need more studies, sure, but more importantly, we need action to make sure every American child gets the care they deserve. It’s about fairness, it’s about equity, and it’s about time.