Research Lead: Susmita Pati, MD MPH
Supported by: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Dates: April 2005- February 2010
Background
Though a variety of public health insurance programs have been created to maintain coverage for children in need, evidence suggests that stability of health care access has been deteriorating since 1996. The interaction of maternal, child, and policy-related factors in predicting stable health insurance coverage among low-income children is not well understood.
Aim
- Examine the relationship between maternal and child patterns of Medicaid retention
Methods
Study Design: This is a two-year prospective longitudinal cohort study with surveys administered at enrollment and follow-up surveys administered by phone every 6 months from birth to age 2 years to examine the correlation between maternal and child patterns of Medicaid enrollment.
Population: 744 infants born to Medicaid-eligible mothers in the post-partum ward of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania from 6/16/2005 through 8/6/2006
Progress
Follow-up was completed in December 2008. Of the cohort of 533 mothers who remained eligible for the entirety of the study period, 437 (82.0%) completed the study with a successful 24-month follow-up. Analysis is ongoing.
