The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #55823

Lise M. Youngblade, PhD¹, Phyllis Sloyer, MPA, PhD², Donna H Wegener, MA³, Elizabeth G. Serow, PhD, MPH⁴, Elizabeth A. Shenkman, PhD¹, John A. Nackashi, MD⁵, and Sanjeev Y Tuli, MD⁵. (1) Dept. of Pediatrics and Institute for Child Health Policy, University of Florida, 5700 SW 34th St., Suite 323, Gainesville, FL 32608, (352)392-5904, ext 262, lmy@ichp.edu, (2) Florida Department of Health, Children's Medical Services, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1701, (3) University of Florida, Institute for Child Health Policy, 5700 SW 34th Street, Suite 323, Gainesville, FL 32608, (4) The Lawton and Rhea Chiles Center, University of South Florida, 1310 Cross Creek Circle, Suite A, Tallahassee, FL 32301, (5) Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida College of Medicine, PO Box 100296, Gainesville, FL 32610

We describe a community-based model for identifying uninsured children with special health care needs (CSHCN) and using telemedicine to facilitate enrollment in Florida’s Title V program, Children’s Medical Services (CMS). Florida has a high rate of uninsurance, especially in rural and low-income Black and Hispanic communities. Florida also has a high rate of CSHCN: a recent statewide survey revealed that 30% of children below 200% FPL had a special need, compared to the national population average of 15-18%. Many uninsured children receive primary care services in Community Health Centers (CHCs), an integral component of the safety net. Because of limited resources, few CHCs offer specialized care of the type that may be needed by CSHCN. Thus, creative strategies are needed to identify uninsured CSHCN and enroll them in programs that provide appropriate services, such as CMS. Our model meets these challenges through partnership with CMS, local CHCs, and families. We will describe four aspects of our model: (1) outreach to low-income families with uninsured CSHCN, with special emphasis on reaching black, Hispanic, and rural families; (2) CHCs as a strategic venue for outreach and identification of CSHCN; (3) telemedicine linkages between CHCs and CMS to evaluate children for special health care needs and enroll them in insurance and appropriate services; and (4) outreach to rural and minority families using grandmothers as community outreach liaisons. This model provides a way to address the health care needs of uninsured CSHCN in underserved communities who face great risk for poor health outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
• describe a community model for identifying uninsured children with special health care needs and using telemedicine to facilitate their enrollment in programs that provide primary and specialty care; and
• understand the use of Community Health Centers as a strategic venue for outreach and identification of children with special health care needs.

Keywords: Children With Special Needs, Community Health Centers

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.