Glenn Flores1, Candy Walker2, Hua Lin2, Michael Lee3, Marco Fierro2, Monica Henry2, Kenneth Massey2, Alberto Portillo2. 1. Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-9063, USA; Division of General Pediatrics, Children's Medical Center Dallas, 1935 Medical District Dr, Dallas, TX 75235, USA. Electronic address: glenn.flores@utsouthwestern.edu. 2. Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-9063, USA. 3. Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-9063, USA; Division of General Pediatrics, Children's Medical Center Dallas, 1935 Medical District Dr, Dallas, TX 75235, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Six million US children have no health insurance, and substantial racial/ethnic disparities exist. The design, methods, and baseline characteristics are described for Kids' Health Insurance by Educating Lots of Parents (Kids' HELP), the first randomized, clinical trial of the effectiveness of Parent Mentors (PMs) in insuring uninsured minority children. METHODS & RESEARCH DESIGN:Latino and African-American children eligible for but not enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP were randomized to PMs, or a control group receiving traditional Medicaid/CHIP outreach. PMs are experienced parents with ≥1 Medicaid/CHIP-covered children. PMs received two days of training, and provide intervention families with information on Medicaid/CHIP eligibility, assistance with application submission, and help maintaining coverage. Primary outcomes include obtaining health insurance, time interval to obtain coverage, and parental satisfaction. A blinded assessor contacts subjects monthly for one year to monitor outcomes. RESULTS:Of 49,361 candidates screened, 329 fulfilled eligibility criteria and were randomized. The mean age is seven years for children and 32 years for caregivers; 2/3 are Latino, 1/3 are African-American, and the mean annual family income is $21,857. Half of caregivers were unaware that their uninsured child is Medicaid/CHIP eligible, and 95% of uninsured children had prior insurance. Fifteen PMs completed two-day training sessions. All PMs are female and minority, 60% are unemployed, and the mean annual family income is $20,913. Post-PM-training, overall knowledge/skills test scores significantly increased, and 100% reported being very satisfied/satisfied with the training. CONCLUSIONS: Kids' HELP successfully reached target populations, met participant enrollment goals, and recruited and trained PMs.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Six million US children have no health insurance, and substantial racial/ethnic disparities exist. The design, methods, and baseline characteristics are described for Kids' Health Insurance by Educating Lots of Parents (Kids' HELP), the first randomized, clinical trial of the effectiveness of Parent Mentors (PMs) in insuring uninsured minority children. METHODS & RESEARCH DESIGN: Latino and African-American children eligible for but not enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP were randomized to PMs, or a control group receiving traditional Medicaid/CHIP outreach. PMs are experienced parents with ≥1 Medicaid/CHIP-covered children. PMs received two days of training, and provide intervention families with information on Medicaid/CHIP eligibility, assistance with application submission, and help maintaining coverage. Primary outcomes include obtaining health insurance, time interval to obtain coverage, and parental satisfaction. A blinded assessor contacts subjects monthly for one year to monitor outcomes. RESULTS: Of 49,361 candidates screened, 329 fulfilled eligibility criteria and were randomized. The mean age is seven years for children and 32 years for caregivers; 2/3 are Latino, 1/3 are African-American, and the mean annual family income is $21,857. Half of caregivers were unaware that their uninsured child is Medicaid/CHIP eligible, and 95% of uninsured children had prior insurance. Fifteen PMs completed two-day training sessions. All PMs are female and minority, 60% are unemployed, and the mean annual family income is $20,913. Post-PM-training, overall knowledge/skills test scores significantly increased, and 100% reported being very satisfied/satisfied with the training. CONCLUSIONS: Kids' HELP successfully reached target populations, met participant enrollment goals, and recruited and trained PMs.
Authors: P G Szilagyi; J Zwanziger; L E Rodewald; J L Holl; D B Mukamel; S Trafton; L P Shone; A W Dick; L Jarrell; R F Raubertas Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2000-02 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: J L Holl; P G Szilagyi; L E Rodewald; L P Shone; J Zwanziger; D B Mukamel; S Trafton; A W Dick; R Barth; R F Raubertas Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2000-03 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Glenn Flores; Hua Lin; Candice Walker; Michael Lee; Janet M Currie; Rick Allgeyer; Alberto Portillo; Monica Henry; Marco Fierro; Kenneth Massey Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2017-05-23 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Glenn Flores; Hua Lin; Candy Walker; Michael Lee; Alberto Portillo; Monica Henry; Marco Fierro; Kenneth Massey Journal: Int J Equity Health Date: 2016-03-22