As a care coordinator, my daily conversations with clients usually revolve around care management – following up on clinic referrals, medication management, disease management education, etc. However, many of our recent conversations have centered on their anxieties about the future of Medicaid. Some of our clients are so anxious that even the simple act of watching news coverage about Medicaid reform can incite a panic attack.
Of our active clients, nearly 80% rely on various forms of Medicaid to access much-needed care. They often speak about their fears of losing Medicaid coverage under proposed legislation. Currently, Medicaid covers nearly 7 million nonelderly adults with disabilities nationwide. Of these patients, more than half live below the federal poverty level ($12,060 for an individual) and nearly 85% live below 200% of the federal poverty level ($24,120 for an individual)[1]. Compared to those with private insurance, these patients are 4 times more likely to use home healthcare, 2.5 times more likely to have three or more functional limitations, and 1.5 times more likely to have 10 or more healthcare visits annually.[2]
In addition to the stress that comes with financial instability and chronic illness, they now fear losing Medicaid coverage. Medicaid is a lifeline for patients with disabilities. In addition to medical insurance, Medicaid provides other essential support services that allow patients to live safely in the community. Medicaid provides critical long-term support services including durable medical equipment, physical/occupational/speech therapy, community-based mental health services, home health services, medical transportation, supportive housing services, etc. These services are often not covered by private insurance and are too costly to afford out-of-pocket – even for patients living above the federal poverty level.
As a care coordinator, I do everything I can to connect patients to supportive services. These services, in addition to basic medical insurance coverage, are critical to maintaining long-term health and independence. Patients and providers heavily rely on services offered by Medicaid. With so much flux in current healthcare policy, everyone has a responsibility to stay informed and to advocate in the best interest of our community’s most vulnerable patients.
[1] Musumeci, M. & Foutz, J. (2017, March 16). Medicaid Restructuring Under the American Health Care act and Nonelderly Adults with Disabilities, Kaiser Family Foundation. Retrieved from here.
[2] Ibid.
