The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #51255

Susan Dooha, Executive Director, Center for the Independence of the Disabled in New York, 841 Broadway, Room 205, New York, NY 10003, 212-674-2300, susan.dooha@verizon.net

The devastation of lower Manhattan on 9/11 increased New Yorkers’ need for Medicaid assistance, but at the same time it destroyed many of the computers that would ordinarily have processed their applications. The state’s response was to introduce a program entitled Disaster Relief Medicaid, for which applicants could apply using a simple one-page form. For many years, health advocates have argued that Medicaid’s cumbersome application process represents a significant barrier to care. Ms. Dooha will describe New York’s remarkable experience with Disaster Relief Medicaid and identify the lessons it offers for improving all applicants’ access to Medicaid.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will understand the barriers to care that are presented by the usual Medicaid application process.
• Participants will learn about Disaster Relief Medicaid -- how it differs from the usual Medicaid program and how it was implemented in New York City.
• Participants will understand the importance of applying the lessons learned from Disaster Relief Medicaid to the whole Medicaid program.

Keywords: Access to Health Care, 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.