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The Cover All Kids Coalition: A Statewide Public/Private Initiative

Janny Dwyer Brust, MN Council of Health Plans

Donna Zimmerman, HealthPartners

Carol Berg, UCare Minnesota

Katie Linde, Blue Cross Blue Shield/Blue Plus of Minnesota

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Goals

• To assure that all children and adolescents in Minnesota have:

• Health care coverage

• Preventive health care services

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Uninsured Children in Minnesota

Est. 58,000 (4.5%) are uninsured

• Children’s parents:• 88% employed• 59% married• 74% have high school diploma or some

college/technical school

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Percentage of children without health insurance coverage,

by race and ethnicity: Minnesota 2001

White Black Hispanic/Latino StatewideAverage

3.5%

10.9%

15.6%

4.5%

Source: Minnesota Health Insurance and Access Survey, 2001

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Child Uninsurance Rates by Region

MDH, Health Economics Program, 2001 Health Access Survey

*significant difference from State rate at 95% level

5.7%

6.5%

5.7%5.4%

5.8%

3.2%

4.0%

Source: MDH, Health Economics Program (2001); U of MN Health Access Survey 6

Private Insurance77.9%

Other Public0.2%

MNCare3.7%

MA13.7%

Uninsured4.5%

Source of Health Care Coverage

(Children: Birth – Under 18 Years)

Minnesota - 2001

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Are Children Getting Preventive Health Care

Services?• 70 – 85% receive well child visits in their first 15 months

• 62 – 85% receive child immunizations

However:• We have difficulties documenting services

• Little consensus on what those services should be or their timing

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Barriers to Getting Health Care Coverage

• Parents:– Lack of knowledge of available health care coverage

– Cultural and Language barriers

• System:– Affordability

– Complicated enrollment process and verifications

– Eligibility barriers

– Lack of continuity of coverage

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Barriers to Getting Preventive Health Care Services

• Parents:– Lack of knowledge of the importance of regular check ups

– Lack of knowledge of where to go for services

– Cultural and language barriers

– Transportation and clinic hours not convenient

• System:– Affordability of insurance coverage

– Lack of uniform preventive services guidelines, training and record keeping

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Why Form A Coalition?

• No one system can solve these problems alone:– It takes:

• Health Systems

• Government

• Community Organizations

• Individuals

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Steering Committee MembershipChairs

Minnesota Medical Association, President

Children’s Defense Fund , Director

Minnesota Council of Health Plans , Executive Director 

Members

Minnesota Department of Health University of Minnesota

Minnesota Department of Human Services Local Public Health

Governor’s Office MDH-Office of Rural Health & Primary Care

Neighborhood Health Care Network The Urban Coalition

Minnesota Hospital & Healthcare Partnership Affiliated Community Medical Centers

Minnesota Nurses Association Minnesota Community Action Association

American Academy of Pediatrics Legal Services Advocacy Project

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Cover All KidsWork Groups

Access to Preventive Services

Best Practices

Documentation and Referrals

Eliminate Disparities

Evaluation, Assessment and Research

Health Care Coverage

Public Awareness

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Recent Accomplishments

• Legislation

• Identifying preventive services common to all guidelines

• Monitoring goals

• Presentations

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Accomplishments• Web

– Public: www.coverallkids.org

– Coalition members

• Toll free number– 1-866-489-4899

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State Fair

August 23 – September 3, 2001

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Challenges

• Communications/coordination

• Funding/Resources

• Prioritization

• Variable progress by work groups

• Political/philosophical tensions

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Next Steps

• All Coalition meeting

• Prioritizing work

• Commitments from partners

• Funding for staffing