Kentucky Children's Health Program (KCHIP) Migrant Outreach FY17

KCHIP was established in the fall of 1997 when the U.S. Congress passed Title XXI of the Social Security Act. Title XXI provides funds for states to implement and expand health coverage to uninsured, low-income children. In November 1999 KCHIP covered children up to 200% of federal poverty level FPL. In January 1, 2014, KCHIP Expansion and Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act there were new income guide limit lines up to 218 (FDL). The Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program (KCHIP) provides free or low-cost health insurance for children younger than 19 uninsured with parents up to 218% FPL. Kentucky estimates that 67,000 children in the state are eligible but unenrolled. To address these enrollment gaps, the KCHIP program recognized the need to provide Spanish language services to families for whom language or cultural barriers prevent them from applying for these crucial health care services. Housed in the Southeast Center for Agricultural Health and Injury Prevention, the KCHIP Spanish Hotline (800-662-5397) serves as the statewide point-of-contact to enroll uninsured children of eligible low-income, Hispanic or migrant families. The toll-free hotline provides (1) case management (2) assistance with resolution of pending cases with members (3) provides enrollment for children where parents do not know the language or the process to apply for the benefits(4) translation services for application materials for Spanish speaking families (5) application or recertification assistance, (6) updates on application policies and procedures, (7) regular communication with caseworkers and Medicaid professionals at the state-level to ensure children’s coverage, and (8) maintenance of a database to monitor procedures and processes for KCHIP state contract compliance. (9) Research issues that member have. Callers to the hotline are served by a bilingual, bicultural professional with over 15 years of experience with KCHIP who is also actively involved in the Hispanic community. The Program director networks with local health departments, hospitals, for-profit and non-profit service organizations, and county-based agencies to further assist KCHIP clients with access to additional needed services. The program has been marketing and promoting at major Festivals the services that we provide to the Hispanic/Latino families. Such as Latin Woman Health Fair, Festival Latino, 6th Annual Hispanic and Migrant Resource Fair, Hispanic and Migrant Dental Health Fair, Back to School Rally and others, also by weekly Radio Program and broadcasting at Radio Vida that includes Fayette County and its 16 counties around. The Program and its Director has been widely recognized for consistently high quality of service and proactive efforts on behalf of migrant farm workers and other Hispanic individuals. Within the past three years, demands on the Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance / Migrant Outreach Program have steadily increased. Overall, there was a significant increase in calls to the toll-free KCHIP Spanish hotline from 2223 calls in Fiscal year 2014, 2652 calls in Fiscal year 2015 and 3144 calls this fiscal year and continues to raise. This toll-free number provides valuable assistance to the growing Spanish-speaking community. These trends parallel increasing total state Medicaid enrollment for the same time period and reflect the success of the KCHIP Spanish hotline in providing culturally competent, bilingual and professional service to clients. PROGRAM AIMS & ACTIVITIES Aim #1: Enroll all eligible where parents do not know the language or the process for how to apply for the Kentucky children in the Kentucky Children’s Health Program (KCHIP) by providing a Spanish language hotline service through the University of Kentucky Migrant Outreach Program at the Southeast Center for Agricultural Health & Injury Prevention. Activity 1.1: Provide a statewide Spanish language toll-free hotline for families with KCHIP eligible children to apply or maintain for that program. Activity 1.2: Communicate the policies and steps that will enable eligible families to enroll their children in a timely and efficient manner. 1.2.1: Explain KCHIP Medicaid eligibility requirements and inform callers how to locate county-level offices of the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services. 1.2.2: Inform clients that the Department for Community Based Service Family Support where the local offices process the applications can take up to 30 days once the caseworker receives a complete application. 1.2.3; Explain to clients that there is a 30 day extension for incomplete cases and for application renewals by mail. 1.2.4: Ensure that Spanish-speaking callers understand their responsibility to report changes in status within 10 days to their caseworker (e.g., income changes), as well as their duty to report immediately any lost or missing enrollment cards or paperwork. Help families report changes if necessary in order for them not to lose benefits. 1.2.5: Ensure that clients understand their right to register an official complaint if they believe they have been unfairly treated when applying for benefits. Aim #2: Network with service provider colleagues in local health departments, hospitals, for-profit and non-profit service organizations (Neighborhoods, public schools, public libraries, parks, businesses, non-profit organizations, colleges and churches) and county-based agencies to assist KCHIP clients with access to the services they need. Activity 2.1: Provide services to clients that language barriers or cultural barriers that might prevent Hispanic families and children from utilizing ancillary services. Activity 2.2: Design and publish new KCHIP brochures and other pertinent materials in Spanish for distribution to public health departments, community centers, and health care providers statewide Aim #3: Ensure quality of Spanish language KCHIP services and complete case follow up. Activity 3.1: Maintain KCHIP databases and report annually to Medicaid (DMS) on statewide Spanish language outreach activity and services rendered