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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Matthew McClain, BA1, Lauren S. Diegh, MPA2, George W. Dowdall, PhD3, John Palenicek, PhD4, Mary R Vienna, MGA5, and Shelley Gordon5. (1) McClain and Associates, Inc., Public Health Policy and Planning, 413 Schuyler Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 301 585 7785, AIDSpolicy@aol.com, (2) Health Services Consulting, 2239 Chestertown Drive, Vienna, VA 22182, (3) Department of Sociology, St. Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131, (4) Center for Health Policy Research, George Washington University, 2021 K Street NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20006, (5) HIV/AIDS Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 16-C-17, Rockville, MD 20857
Objective: To present findings from a Federal study that explored the need for a national study on access to Medicaid for non-pregnant women with HIV infection. The study concluded that Medicaid access problems do exist for women with HIV and that a larger study is needed to clarify the true dimensions of the issue. Methods: The HIV/AIDS Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration commissioned a small-scale study to explore the feasibility of conducting a national study on access to Medicaid by women with HIV. The methods included a review of the literature, 20 key informant interviews, and data requested from 112 direct service providers, advocates, and others in 6 states. The focus of the field data collection was on non-pregnant women with HIV. The response rate was 32.1%. Findings and Recommendations: Continuous and uninterrupted Medicaid eligibility is not a reality for most non-pregnant women with HIV infection. Nearly all participants, (96%) reported that some or many non-pregnant women with HIV experienced interruptions in Medicaid coverage in their area or State over the past 12 months. The two top reasons why non-pregnant women with HIV eligible for Medicaid may not be enrolled were (1) discouraged from applying because of immigration status (77.7% rated this as serious and very serious) and (2) coverage denied because of lack of AIDS symptoms under SSI-Medicaid (75.9%). A larger national study with both quantitative and qualitative data collection is warranted in order to extend this new information and better understand the scope of the issue.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Women and HIV/AIDS, Medicaid
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.