Work

Integrating firearm storage and safety devices into health care

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Millions of US children and adolescents live in homes with loaded firearms, with only half of these homes securing their guns. Firearm-related deaths among youth have doubled over the past decade, making firearms the leading cause of death for children and adolescents in the United States. The recent advisory by the US Surgeon General, identifying firearm violence as a public health crisis, underscores the urgent need for responsible firearm ownership, including safe firearm storage. However, the healthcare community currently lacks durable medical equipment (DME) codes for firearm storage devices, limiting the ability of healthcare providers to support responsible gun ownership. We propose the establishment of DME codes for firearm storage and safety devices, which would facilitate insurance coverage of these vital prevention measures. Durable medical equipment codes would empower physicians and other healthcare providers to integrate anticipatory guidance and lethal means counseling of firearm safety into routine care and support hospital- and community-based efforts to prevent firearm-related injuries and deaths among children and adolescents.

Source: Health Affairs Scholar

DOI: 10.1093/haschl/qxae105

Authors: Christopher R Cogle, Anirudh B Venkatesh, Jaclyn M Hall

Institutions: University of Florida, University of Florida Health

Language: English

Topic: Gun Ownership and Violence Research

Subfield: Health

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,308