This report examined whether children and adults who were newly enrolled in HUSKY A (Medicaid) received health care services within six months of their enrollment in 2006. Fewer than half of new enrollees (47%) had well-child care in the first 6 months after enrolling in HUSKY A; young children were much more likely to get well-child care. About two-thirds (61%) of new enrollees had at least one office visit. Just one in five (19%) had dental care. Those who had well-child care were more likely to have had other office visits and dental care, as well as emergency care.
Despite contractual obligations to inform and assist new members with appointment scheduling, and despite whatever unmet needs a newly enrolled person may have had, many new enrollees sought emergency care or failed to obtain preventive and other health care services. An unexpectedly high percentage of enrollees (16%) who were new to HUSKY A in the first half of 2006 were no longer enrolled 6 months later.
