Citation URL: http://www.urban.org/LeightonKu

Objectives. This study assessed factors related to chlamydial infection among young men in the United States. Methods. Data were from interviews of nationally representative samples of 470 men aged 18 to 19 years (teenagers) and 995 men aged 22 to 26 years (young adults) and from urine specimens tested by means of polymerase chain reaction. Results. Although a majority of the men reported occasional unprotected intercourse, only a minority perceived themselves to be at risk for contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Chlamydial infection was detected in 3.1% of the teenagers and 4.5% of the young adults. A minority of those infected had symptoms or had been tested for STDs; very few had been diagnosed with STDs. Conclusions. Chlamydial infection is common but usually asymptomatic and undiagnosed. Primary and secondary prevention efforts should be increased, particularly among young adult men. (Am J Public Health. 2002;92:1140–1143)

This report provides findings from a 1999-2000 survey of 3400 immigrant families in Los Angeles County and New York City, two cities that account for roughly a quarter of the nation's immigrant population. The survey was conducted in five languages and probed the respondents' legal status (naturalized citizen, legal permanent resident, refugee, undocumented immigrant, etc.). The report measures housing affordability, food insecurity and hunger among immigrant populations. Health insurance coverage, health care access and self-reported health status are also highlighted. The study uses these measures to assess the need for food stamps, Medicaid and other benefits and services and differing immigrant subpopulations.

This paper examines the contribution of immigration to the increase in the number of uninsured Americans between 1994 and 1998. The study found that non-citizens comprised 20 percent of the total uninsured in the U.S. Recent immigrants and their children who lacked health coverage (2.3 million) constitute only 5 percent of the 44 million uninsured. The number of new immigrants entering the U.S. between 1994 and 1998 actually fell, resulting in a decrease of 100,000 in the number of recent immigrants who are uninsured. Thus while recent immigrants have high rates of being uninsured (46 percent), they are not significant reason for the growth in the number of uninsured. Native citizens contributed most of the growth in the number of uninsured, 2.7 million of the 4.2 million increase (or 64 percent) in the number of uninsured between 1994 and 1998. (Published by the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured; 2001 February.)

Reviewing changes in the Medicaid caseload for 1995-1997, the authors find that the number of adults and children on Medicaid fell 10.6 percent and 2.7 percent respectively, the number of aged stayed roughly constant, and the number of people with disabilities rose by 7.9 percent. Data from the Current Population Survey indicates that Medicaid participation continued to drop between 1997-98. Uninsurance rates for immigrants rose by 5 percent. The national data obscure large differences across states.

Paper will use NSAF to analyze immigrants' insurance coverage and access to medical care, particularly those with low incomes. It will analyze adult immigrants and their children (who are often US-born) and examine how immigration status affects their insurance coverage and use of medical services.

In 1996, the number of people on Medicaid fell for the first time in recent history. This report presents the results of an econometric analysis of the factors that affected state Medicaid participation from 1984-96 and applies these results to estimate which factors contributed to the 1995-96 downturn. The principal finding is that welfare reform and the economy both significantly affected the Medicaid caseload decline at roughly similar levels.

Since 1991, three federal laws have sought to reform the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) program, which is designed to provide financial support to safety net hospitals. The article provides findings from a 40-state survey about Medicaid DSH and upper payment limit programs in 1997. Results indicate that the overall size of the DSH program did not increase from 1993 to 1997, but the composition of the DSH revenues and expenditures changed substantially: A much higher share of DSH funds were being paid to local hospitals and relatively less was being retained by states. The study also revealed that large differences in states’ use of DSH still persist. Finally, the survey indicated that a growing number of states established upper payment limits programs in the late 1990s. (Health Care Financing Review 2000 Winter; 22(2):137-158).

Paper based on UI survey on the sources of state funds and the uses of DSH expenditures. Paper will also examine how states intend to respond to cuts in federal DHS payments.

As publicly funded health insurance programs shift more toward coverage of working families in low and moderate incomes, there has been a growing interest in beneficiary cost sharing in the form of sliding-scale premiums. In this study we examined four publicly-sponsored health insurance programs aimed at working-class families--Hawaii’s QUEST, Minnesota’s MNCare, Tennessee’s TennCare, and Washington’s BHP. The experience in these states indicates that it is feasible to require cost sharing of premiums, but there are a number of design and operational complexities. A preliminary analysis indicates that higher out-of-pocket premium shares were associated with lower participation rates.(Inquiry Winter 1999/2000; 36(4):471-480).

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