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

Abstract #60795

Jacqueline L. Stock, MPH¹, Virginia Sharp, MA¹, Stacey DeFries, MSW², and Becky McAninch-Dake³. (1) Center for Children with Special Needs, Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, POB 50020 MS S219, Seattle, WA 98145-5020, (206) 987-5327, jacquie.stock@seattlechildrens.org, (2) Children with Special Health Care Needs Program, Washington State Department of Health, POB 47880 MS 7880, Olympia, WA 98504, (3) Medical Assistance Administration, Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, 805 Plum Street SE, Bldg. 6, 4th Floor, Olympia, WA 98504-5506

Objective: Determine if parents of children with special health care needs (CSHCN) in Washington State have equal access to, and are satisfied with, Medicaid managed care services in private health plans. Methods: Data from the 2002 Washington State Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Survey (CAHPS) Child questionnaire were analyzed for differences in access to, and satisfaction with, health services reported by parents of CSHCN and parents without a CSHCN. The survey used the FACCT CSHCN Screener to enable classification of children as CSHCN or not. Results: Respondents with CSCHN (n=2,377) were significantly more likely than those without CSHCN (n=4,742) to be a non-parent caregiver, female, 45 years of age or more, graduated from high school, and to use English as their primary language. A majority of respondents with CSHCN reported they usually or always got, and were satisfied with, access and health services for their child. However, compared to respondents without CSHCN, respondents with CSHCN were significantly more likely to report problems in getting needed care, prescription medicines and therapies; not getting respect from providers and staff; problems with plan customer service and paperwork; and to rate their overall experience with their child’s health plan as worse. Differences in satisfaction with some services varied based upon demographic characteristics of respondents. Conclusions: Health plans can assure equal access to services, and satisfaction for CSHCN and their families, by analyzing processes within the plan that result in delayed care or not getting care, and how paperwork and communication can improve.

Learning Objectives:

At session’s end, participants will be able to:
• List how Consumer Assessment of Health Plan Survey (CAHPS) Child questionnaire data can be used to monitor Title V (CSHCN) performance measures.
• List at least three demonstrated disparities in access to health services for children with special health care needs in Medicaid managed care, which health plans can target for improvement.
• List at least five health services, with which caregivers of CSHCN are dissatisfied, that private health plans can target for improvement.

Keywords: Children With Special Needs, Health Service

Related Web page: www.cshcn.org

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.

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