Recorded presentation

Francesca Gany, MD, MS¹, Jessica J. Lee¹, Jyotsna Changrani, MD¹, Herbert Segal, MD, MPH², Kim Farquharson³, Cathy Weigle⁴, Danielle Wolf⁴, and Naomi Wolinsky⁵. (1) NYU School of Medicine, Center for Immigrant Health, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, 718-263-8783, jessica.lee@med.nyu.edu, (2) Fidelis Care New York, 95-25 Queens Boulevard, Rego Park, NY 11374, (3) New York Health Plan Association, 90 State Street, Suite 825, Albany, NY 12207-1717, (4) Neighborhood Health Providers, 521 5th Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10175, (5) UnitedHealthcare/AmeriChoice, 7 Hanover Square, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10014

Objective: Immigrant and minority communities in New York have many barriers to access and utilization of managed care health insurance and resources. To reduce disparities in this area, the New York University Center for Immigrant Health (CIH) collaborated with the New York Health Plan Association and three health maintenance organizations (HMOs): Fidelis Care New York, Neighborhood Health Providers, and UnitedHealthcare/AmeriChoice. The organizations developed a multi-targeted strategy to improve the levels of cultural competency and to empower the immigrant and minority member populations. Methods: The cultural competency trainings were aimed at the HMOs’ direct service clinical and non-clinical staff and the primary care providers (PCPs). The trainings were tailored to the needs and populations of each HMO, as well as clinical and non-clinical settings, and involved surveys and interactive workshops. Patient empowerment tools (PETs) were written media, developed with community input, available in Chinese, English, Haitian Creole, Russian and Spanish. PETs emphasized preventative health practices, including annual well visits, screenings, and immunizations. Pre- and post-testing on knowledge and skills of cultural competency were conducted to evaluate this program. Results: This three-pronged approach of cultural competency training for staff, PCPs and HMO members improved cultural and linguistic misunderstandings through verbal and nonverbal communication. Conclusion: The program illustrated that a multi-pronged approach, integrating cultural competency trainings and PETs, in HMO settings are feasible and effective in reducing disparities in health access for underserved communities. The implementation of the multi-targeted cultural competency training in the HMO setting heightened awareness of immigrant and minority health access and utilization issues.

Learning Objectives: Learning objectives

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to
• identify a comprehensive training strategy for community and consumer involvement to address culturally and linguistically appropriate service delivery
• understand the importance of a multi-pronged approach to reduce disparities of access and utilization of managed care health insurance and resources
• apply similar methods and components of the program with their own programs.

Keywords: Medicaid Managed Care, Cultural Competency

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Center for Immigrant Health, New York University School of Medicine, Division of Primary Care; New York Health Plan Association; Fidelis Cares New York; Neighborhood Health Providers; and UnitedHealthcare/AmeriChoice.
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.

Recorded presentation

Moving Medicaid and Medicare to Managed Care

The 132nd Annual Meeting (November 6-10, 2004) of APHA