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

Abstract #67866

Nathan D West, MPA, Norma I. Gavin, PhD, and Nancy Lenfestey, MPH. Health, Social and Economics Research, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, 919-541-6816, nathanwest@rti.org

A computer-assisted household telephone survey was conducted on the family, one or both parents, and one child randomly selected from each of two age groups—under 6 years and 6 to 17 years. We drew a random sample of families with children participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) during the 2001/02 school year in 68 consenting school districts across the State. Interviews were completed with 641 BadgerCare families and 384 eligible nonenrolled families. BadgerCare participants were much more likely than eligible non-participants to have visits to MDs and other health care practitioners, and much less likely to have an ER visit. Approximately 43% of eligible non-enrolled children aged 0-5 did not have a well-child visit in the past year, whereas only 19% of BadgerCare children aged 0-5 did not have a well-child visit. BadgerCare participants were more likely to have a regular source of care, seek a regular health care professional, and have more confidence that they would get needed medical care. BadgerCare participants were more likely to be in excellent health. BadgerCare has been effective in providing access for Wisconsin working families without adequate or affordable health coverage. The need for health coverage among eligible non-participants is evident in their reported lower health service use and greater problems with access to care. During this time of economic uncertainty and declining state revenues to expand SCHIP coverage to eligible families, heightened efforts may be needed to ensure that the improved access to and quality of care received by BadgerCare families are not lost and that eligible non-participating families obtain access to needed care.

Learning Objectives:

• Compare the characteristics, health service use, health status and access to care of BadgerCare families with eligible nonenrolled families and discuss the successes and challenges facing Wisconsin’s SCHIP/Medicaid expansion program

Keywords: Health Insurance, Access to Health Care

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.