High-Tech Solutions
for Underserved
Populations
Alabama’s Medicaid Application
En Español/Hablamos Juntos Alabama
In the Unites States,
more than 21 million
people cannot speak
English effectively.
That equates to
about one in every
thirteen people.
Alabama’s LEP
Population
In Alabama, the number of
individuals with limited
English proficiency (LEP)
is rapidly increasing.
Alabama’s LEP Population
Year 2000 census figures indicate that:


Hispanics are the fastest growing
minority group in Alabama
Their numbers have more than
tripled between 1990 and 2000
Increasing Use of Technology
at LEP Access Points
In order to increase the use of technology at
LEP access points, En Español collaborated
with a medical informatics specialist to
develop two software solutions to facilitate the
Medicaid application process.
1.
A self-guided program loaded on a computer kiosk,
which helps clients complete the application process.
2.
A desktop phrase communication tool for Medicaid
Specialists to assist clients with the application.
Rationale


The Medicaid, All Kids and Alabama
Child Caring Foundation (ACCF)
programs all use the same application
process and form.
Many LEP Latinos have children who
are eligible for state-sponsored services
although the parents may not be.
Product Description
The Self-Guided Kiosk Module



Clients interact with touch screen technology using a
self-guided process directed by the computer
Digitally recorded instructions in the client’s selected
language of preference are played along with a
narrative of the application requirements
Clients interact with the screen and input basic
information that pre-determines whether or not they
qualify, before being directed to the full application
Product Description
The Self-Guided Kiosk Module (cont’d)

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The software matrix then guides clients through a
series of questions to gain more pertinent information
(name, address, marital status, income level, etc)
The computer then generates a preliminary
application that can later be processed by a Medicaid
Specialist who makes the final eligibility determination
The system also produces a list of all documents
required to verify the application, in the client’s
language of preference
Product Description
The Desktop Phrase Communicator



This product is used to facilitate dialogue between
Medicaid Specialists (MS) and clients
It includes a series of indexed topics and
corresponding questions and phrases displayed in
English on the Specialist’s computer screen
When the Specialist selects a phrase with the mouse,
the computer will play a digital recording of the phrase
in the patient’s language of preference
Product Benefits
The combination of these products would:
 Reduce the current work load on Medicaid Specialist
 Create a larger number of entry points for LEP
individuals into Medicaid services
 Make it more convenient for individuals to apply
 Help to increase overall comprehension of the process
by applicants
The kiosk module also has the potential to benefit
English-speaking clients as well.
References

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
U.S. Census Bureau, “Language Use and EnglishSpeaking Ability: 2000.”
Cindy Brach, Irene Fraser, and Kathy Paez
Crossing The Language Chasm
Health Affairs, March/April 2005; 24(2): 424-434.
Leighton Ku and Glenn Flores
Pay Now Or Pay Later: Providing Interpreter Services
In Health Care
Health Affairs, March/April 2005; 24(2): 435-444.