Enhanced Pregnancy Benefit Packages: Worth Another Look
Through their Medicaid programs, states may offer specialized pregnancy benefits to women that target risks contributing to poor pregnancy outcomes. Though such benefits are categorized as “optional” Medicaid services, they are seen by many as critical to optimizing maternal health and positive birth outcomes. These enhanced pregnancy benefits support women in having healthy pregnancies and contribute to improved infant and maternal health.
Increasing Access to Dental Care in Medicaid: Targeted Programs for Four Populations
Poor access to oral health care and low utilization of oral health services by publicly insured people have been persistent problems that states and their Medicaid programs have grappled with for decades. However, there are groups of Medicaid enrollees – such as young children, pregnant women, people with developmental disabilities, and people living in rural areas – who face particular oral health challenges. These populations can benefit from interventions targeted specifically at their needs.
SCHIP and Adolescents: An Overview and Opportunities for States
Over the past decade, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) has made great strides in increasing health care coverage among youth under age 19. However, this overall success masks an important disparity – adolescents are more likely to be uninsured than younger children. As state policy makers and program administrators seek to build on their successes to reach more of those eligible for SCHIP, special attention should be paid to adolescents.
Chronic Homelessness and High Users of Health Services: Report from a Meeting to Explore a Strategy for Reducing Medicaid Spending While Improving Care
There is evidence that homeless people, especially the chronically homeless, incur high health care costs, much of which may be paid for with Medicaid funds. There is also evidence that health care costs are reduced when homeless people with intensive medical needs enter supportive housing, which combines affordable, stable housing with care workers who assist residents in managing health, mental health, substance abuse, and employment issues.
Beyond the Basics: Enrollment and Retention of Hispanic Children in SCHIP
This paper examines effective outreach strategies aimed at the Hispanic community, cultural barriers to enrollment and retention/covering undocumented children, and cultural competence in an increasingly culturally and linguistically diverse population. The material is based on a March 2002 meeting of SCHIP directors and representatives from community, health, and Hispanic advocacy organizations in 11 states.
