To explore the intersection of area-level climate vulnerability and children's health insurance status in New York state.
Key Findings:
Higher emergency department use for cardiometabolic disease among children in the highest quartile of climate vulnerability, regardless of insurance type.
Publicly insured children in high climate vulnerability areas had greater outpatient care utilization for cardiometabolic disease compared to those in low vulnerability areas.
Displacement during climate-related disasters disproportionately affects lower socioeconomic status households, complicating access to healthcare.
Interpretation:
The continuity of Medicaid coverage during displacement events, as proposed in the Disaster Relief Medicaid Act, may help mitigate disparities in healthcare access for children with cardiometabolic diseases during climate-related disasters.
Limitations:
The Climate Vulnerability Index used may not accurately reflect individual risk due to its area-level nature.
Endogeneity in the index could complicate interpretation of results, potentially introducing bias.
Conclusion:
Proposed federal programs aim to improve health equity in the context of climate vulnerability and health insurance.
