Immigrant Women
Protecting Health Care as a Right
Immigrant Access to Care
In 2005, Governor Ehrlich cut the entire $7M used to fund the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) Medicaid coverage for legal immigrant children and pregnant women from the proposed FY 2006 state budget.4,000 legal immigrant pregnant women and children were being served under this program at that time.
Maryland legislators immediately filled this gap by allocating enough state funds to fully cover health care for this population under Medical Assistance and the Maryland Children’s Health Program.
Systems issues affecting Latinos include inadequate health data for Latinos, a lack of Latino health care professionals and a need for more culturally and linguistically appropriate health promotion and disease prevention efforts.
Latinos all too often forgo health services because of deportation fears. The result is that Latinos perceive their options are limited when the severity of their conditions are more advanced, leading to poorer medical outcomes.
The ability to communicate across language barriers and understand socio-cultural variations in health beliefs, values, and behaviors is critical to the delivery of health care
The Latino Health Initiatives’ report Blueprint for Latino Health: 2008-2012 reveals troubling data about the state of the Latino populations’ health and health access in Maryland.
The high uninsured rates combined with the high cost of healthcare are leading to a delay in seeking care and taking preventative measures. This is overwhelmingly the largest obstacle to Latinos healthcare access, according to the Blueprint report.
Unfamiliarity with the US health care system and the lack of culturally and linguistically competent services results in Latino immigrant community members not knowing where to go for care when they get sick. Lack of understanding on eligibility requirements causes confusion and many cases leads individuals to not seek free or reduced-price care under the mistaken impression that they are not eligible.
Furthermore, the current political environment has created distrust within the immigrant community towards mainstream and government providers and programs. - Evelyn B. Kelly MPH, Interim Senior Manager for Health Programs, CASA de Maryland, Inc
MM!MD Advocacy In Action
Involved:
Following the 2005 legislative session, MM!MD pressured two legislative committees to hold hearings on the cuts.Focused:
MM!MD recruited expert testimony by Jonathan Blazer, of the National Immigration Law Center.Strategic:
MM!MD secured media coverage on children affected by the cuts with two feature articles in the Washington Post, and follow-up articles and editorials on the Baltimore Sun.MM!MD participated in two press conferences, presented testimony to legislative committees, met with the Budget Secretary, and sent letters to the Governor urging him to sign the bill, which mandates partial restoration of the cuts in July 1007.
Collaborative:
During the 2006 Maryland General Assembly session, MM!MD members supported work by Del. Victor Ramirez to mandate funds to restore the Medicaid coverage.Results Driven:
Although the administration did not restore Medicaid funding, they have allocated $3M for local programs that provide healthcare to immigrant families.
BHCA Health Care Reform Impact Analysis
Kaiser Family Health Care Reform Subsidy Calculator
Long Life for Health Care Reform? Maybe Not
FamiliesUSA Health Care Reform Pre-existing Conditions Analysis
MD Health Care Reform Coordinating Council
Kaiser Family Foundation Briefing On Reform's Medicaid Expansion
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