Filling in the Gaps in Community Healthcare
~ For Adults with Developmental Disabilities ~
The STEPS to Health & Wellness program has been operating at ARCH since 2005. The program is going from strength to strength under the leadership of our STEPS Coordinator, TJ Geist-Anderson and her team, “Many people out there believe the myth that just because a person has a disability and /or is covered by ALTCS (Medicaid) that they have access to great comprehensive healthcare, but in our experience, working with our adult participants at ARCH, that is simply not true."
"In October 2016, the State approved 2 podiatry visits a year
for those receiving ALTCS and AHCCCS – great! – But, a Primary care provider has to approve a referral and many of them are not issuing those referrals. ALTCS members also got a $1,000 dental benefit, but caregivers tell us that they can’t get preventive services such as cleanings covered. Those individuals on AHCCCS (Medicare) aren't getting any dental coverage unless they purchase it, which is difficult when they only get about $700 a month in SSI."
"ARCH’s answer is to try to reach out and and help get some of these gaps filled, helping our existing participants with the necessary STEPS to better Health & Wellness!”
In order to expand and grow the STEPS program, TJ has recently been on lots of training courses and set up
new initiatives
and new STEPS
partnerships
for 2018. Read more about them on our updated STEPS website pages ~ click on the links above.