State Grant Will Allow Danbury VNA To Better Service Health For Kids, Teens & Expectant Moms

DANBURY — A new $192,000 state grant will help the Danbury Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) lead a regional effort to boost health of children, teenagers, and pregnant women. The 12-town Greater Danbury service area includes Danbury, Newtown, New Fairfield, Ridgefield, Redding, New Milford, Brookfield, Bethel, Bridgewater, and Sherman.

The State Department of Social Services awarded the Connecticut Community Health Care Initiative Grant to help reduce infant mortality and low birth-weight. It will also increase and improve health care and insurance coverage for Connecticut children and teens through the HUSKY state insurance program.

The grant is targeting both expectant women and children to avoid duplication of service and cast a wider net for case management. The program will help patients access care, get a primary care doctor, prescriptions, and offer assistance “as much or as little as they need,” said Noraleen Dunphy of the Danbury VNA.

“CT Community Health Care is the only one in this region who administers this package for the state. Each town has its own social service department that will work closely to distribute information and coordinate the insurance with the Danbury VNA,” Ms Dunphy added.

Thousands of Connecticut families don’t have health insurance for their children because affordable programs have been difficult to find. A statewide insurance program called HUSKY now offers affordable options for children’s health insurance regardless of family income.

The program will also attempt outreach and case management services for pregnant women to insure they will receive good prenatal care. A full benefit package with no premiums and no co-pays will be available to women who meet certain income requirements. For example, a family of four living in Connecticut with income up to $31,543 will be eligible for the pregnancy coverage.

HUSKY stands for Healthcare for Uninsured Kids and Youth. It is a service for all children up to age 19 who do not have insurance. HUSKY offers a comprehensive health care benefit package including wellness visits, prescriptions, vision care, dental, hearing, podiatry, home health services, inpatient hospital care, emergency care, speech and language care, and much more.

Getting regular check-ups and immunizations can help children avoid serious illnesses. Without health insurance, many children go without these needed services and are more at risk. Estimates vary but as many at 90,000 children may be uninsured in the State of Connecticut.

It has also been shown that an effective means of improving birth outcomes for women is for them to have access to healthcare coverage and insurance during their pregnancy. In 1997, the state Department of Social Services reported that low birth weight and pre-term deliveries were four times higher for mothers without prenatal care.

Ms Dunphy is a registered nurse and the program supervisor at the Danbury VNA. She explained how simple getting this coverage can be. “All parents have to do is call the toll-free hotline, 877/CT-HUSKY, and apply by phone. But sometimes parents find the process confusing or need help obtaining the required documents. That’s what we’re here for. Parents can come to us and we’ll explain the rest.”

Having health insurance for children gives parents the opportunity to establish a relationship with a regular doctor who knows them well and is familiar with their children. It has been clearly documented that children who have access to preventative care miss school less often due to more serious illnesses. “It’s easier to deal with smaller problems before they become something bigger,” Ms Dunphy said. “A cold can lead to pneumonia or trigger an asthma attack. This can all be very well controlled if taken care of early.”

The CT Community Health Care Initiative will help families by keeping children, teens, and expectant mothers healthy with access to regular medical care. There is also an insurance option for children who have special physical or behavioral health care needs. For many families, insurance will be free. Other families will pay a low monthly premium cost based on family size and income. Depending on the level of income, there may be some co-payments when a child visits the doctor or receives a prescription. But there are no deductibles, and insurance will cover children regardless of any prior medical conditions.

A particular difficulty is identifying those who need these programs. Ms Dunphy explained, “The grant program is designed to serve the under-served. The demand is sizable and it is still hard to find and reach people that need to get into the system. When people find out about our program, it is successful. But many people are fearful of government programs. Maybe they don’t speak the language but we’re here to convince them there are trusted local people in their communities to assist them. This has made a difference.”

What seems to be working is grassroots efforts through word of mouth. Anyone who knows an expectant mother or has a relative, friend, or acquaintance with children who do not have health insurance can help spread the word. In-person assistance is available in English, Spanish, or Portuguese at the VNA office at 4 Liberty Street in Danbury or by calling 203/792-4120 to make an appointment. The HUSKY Web site on the Internet is www.huskyhealth.com.