In a recent perspective piece, Vivek Ashok and colleagues highlight the significance of a new White House executive order enabling state Medicaid programs to reimburse health care providers for counseling on secure firearm storage.
With firearm injuries now the leading cause of death among children in the U.S., this policy offers a critical opportunity to address preventable tragedies. Research shows that even modest improvements in firearm storage could prevent hundreds of injuries and deaths annually. Medicaid reimbursement not only supports lifesaving counseling but also reduces the financial burden of firearm injuries, which cost taxpayers billions each year.