NHID Focus Group on Women's Access to Healthcare Services

Focus Groups to Learn About Women’s Access to Health Care Services in New Hampshire

Health Management Associates is working with the New Hampshire Insurance Department (NHID) on a study, funded by a federal HHS grant, to understand women’s access to health services in New Hampshire. Hearing directly from women about their experiences with their health care and insurance coverage, especially coverage through the New Hampshire Health Insurance Marketplace, is key to this study’s success. We are in the process of planning focus groups to learn about women’s experiences in rural and urban areas of the state. We are working to identify the important areas where there is a lack of access to appropriate care, as well as policy options, operational strategies, and innovations that can strengthen coverage across commercial insurance markets that fall under the Insurance Department’s scope.

We are specifically interested in the full range of women’s health issues, including perinatal care generally, access to doulas, mental health and SUD screenings and treatment (including screenings and care for perinatal mood and anxiety disorder), reproductive health, breast and cervical cancer screenings and treatment, menopause support services, chronic disease management, and geographical and socioeconomic barriers to care. We’d like to identify any opportunities to address challenges and barriers within the scope of the insurance department, including opportunities for outreach and education about existing health coverage, what benefits are covered, and how people can access them. These insights will help inform recommendations for NHID, payer strategies, and outreach and education efforts.