Karen
Participant’s name has been changed to uphold anonymity of personal identity.
Karen works in a program in the Department of Human Services that services children and families. . She understands the importance of Medicaid in treating children with multiple physical, mental, and emotional needs.
“Medicaid is critical in helping to identify and provide treatment for developmental disabilities in children.” Through Medicaid, Karen’s clients “have been able to receive services needed.”
COVID-19 has impacted the way her clients have been able to receive treatment. “Since services were still needed during COVID, therapists found alternate ways to provide services through ZOOM.” Karen believes Medicaid enhances the health and lives of her clients.
Kambrei
Kambrei is a provider at a local nonprofit in central Arkansas that focuses on helping Arkansans restore their lives. “Medicaid is important to my clients because of some treatment areas of concern…especially recovery, they have to have Medicaid or some insurance in order not to be charged an entrance fee.” Kambrei informs that costs of the programs his clients most readily use can be covered with Medicaid. “The importance of Medicaid is the fees associated with going to a shelter or a rehab are waved leaving no costs to the clients.”
Kambrei also informs that his organization helps new Arkansas residents get connected to Medicaid coverage. “I work with clients that come from out of town. When they enter our state of Arkansas they are not covered with insurance. I take that opportunity to strengthen their advantage in our community by providing them with insurance that will allow them to attend hospitals, to get the needed services without costing them financially.”
Kambrei said there have been challenges with Medicaid for his clients. He believes that there should be more promotion about the Medicaid program and information on how people can access services. “I believe we need more Medicaid awareness; tv shows, fliers, information out there to give to our clients. Right now, people don’t necessarily know how to apply for Medicaid.”
Kambrei looks forward to working with more clients and seeing the positive transformation of their lives.
“I want my families to go from crisis to thriving.”
Faith
Faith developed a non-profit to better serve the clients within the public housing communities in central Arkansas. After serving at one of the housing communities during her field internship for her undergraduate degree, she knew that her clients would need additional support. Faith connects her clients to healthier foods, cooking lessons, and access to physical education services. These support services combined with Medicaid help to improve the lives of her clients.
“Without Medicaid, clients would have an extremely short life span.”
Faith says that some of her clients experience difficulties advocating for their health. “It is often times hard for clients to articulate their needs, leading to missed opportunities. Faith informed that many of her clients are in need of in-home care but based on the way they answer their assessments for services, they may be denied although they desperately need help.
Faith feels that although there have been devastating effects from the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been some positive changes for her clients. “The biggest impact COVID had on clients who receive Medicaid was accessibility to services.” She is hoping that accessibility to appropriate services will continue after the pandemic concludes to benefit the health of those she serves.
FB
FB works as a medical provider in Arkansas. FB currently serves patients who receive Medicaid. The Medicaid program has played a huge role in the health of her clients. FB’s patients have been able to get the care and medication they require that they otherwise would likely not be able to afford. Through Medicaid, her patients have been able to get necessary healthcare services.
FB states that even with Medicaid coverage, her patients have experienced challenges with obtaining medication. “To my knowledge some of my patients have been denied medication, but not necessarily testing and referrals. FB’s patients who do not have Medicaid have had to postpone critical medical services. COVID-19 has not significantly impacted the patients she’s seen because they have had access to services.
“They have been able to seek medical care in a timely manner, which is very important to prevent the spread of Covid and having better outcomes.”
Nicole
Participant’s name has been changed to uphold anonymity of personal identity.
Nicole is a provider of case management services within the Marshallese community. She states that Medicaid has allowed clients to go to the doctor without worrying about copayments for appointments or fees associated with prescriptions. Prior to recent legislative changes for the Marshallese community, Nicole noticed that many adults were being denied for Medicaid coverage. “They were turned away.” She also informed, “..before you would see a lot of people not go to the doctor who had serious conditions. Now they have Medicaid, when they are sick they can go to the doctor. Medicaid has helped.”
Nicole is thankful that more Marshallese adults will be eligible for Medicaid but states that there are services that some may not be able to access. “The coverage does not cover vision and dental services. Most of the elders, most of us need dental and vision, especially if they are going to work. A lot of people want to work but their eyes are so weak. Also, with dental, if you have problems with teeth, going to call out a lot (from work).Nicole feels that Medicaid should be comprehensive in covering all the medical needs that a person experiences and there should be no exclusions.
“We really need dental and vision.”