Medical Resources

Overseas Medical Exam

Per US law and Department of Health Human Services regulations, a medical exam is required for all refugees accepted to resettle in the U.S. The purpose of this examination is to identify any individual with conditions that prevent entry into the U.S. as defined by public health regulation. Inadmissible health conditions include:  Communicable diseases of public health significance (tuberculosis [TB], syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections, and Hansen’s Disease [leprosy]), drug addiction, and physical or mental disorders with harmful behaviors. These diseases and conditions are designated as “Class A”. Refugees with Class A conditions are prevented from travel to the U.S. unless they undergo treatment and no longer pose harm (for example, complete treatment for TB). In some situations, a waiver may allow a refugee to travel to the U.S. despite a Class A condition. More information on the Overseas Medical Exam can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/medical-examination.html

Domestic Medical Examination for Newly Arriving Refugees

The purpose of the DME is to identify conditions of public health concern, familiarize refugees with the US healthcare system, and to address any conditions that might impede a refugee’s path to self-sufficiency. The cost of the exam is free for eligible clients. Refugee Medical Assistance pays for the screening for those who are not on Medicaid. Components: Vaccinations, complete history and physical, complete blood count, intestinal parasite treatment if necessary, testing for sexually transmitted diseases, malaria, tuberculosis, hepatitis, lead poisoning, a mental health screening, and referrals to follow-up treatment. The CDC’s guidelines for the DME are available here: https://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/guidelines/domestic/domestic-guidelines.html

The Bureau of Population and Migration requires that Resettlement Agencies facilitate the DME for their clients as soon as possible after arrival, and ideally within 30 days of arrival or grant of qualifying status. The coordination of the DME is federally funded through RRP. In Arizona, RRP contracts with two entities to provide the DME:

Screening appointments are available for all refugees and other eligible beneficiaries and coordinated through the resettling agency and the screening coordinator.  The clinic cannot accommodate walk-ins for the DME.

Refugee Medical Assistance is a temporary medical benefit for refugees and other eligible beneficiaries who are not eligible for state Medicaid (AHCCCS). In Arizona, RMA is available for refugees who have lost AHCCCS coverage in the first 8 months after arrival due to earnings from employment. More information is available in the documents below. Refugees can apply for RMA through their resettlement agency.  RMA is administered at the RRP office in the Department of Economic Security.  Refugees who apply for and are granted RMA coverage will receive an RMA medical coverage card that they can provide their health providers.  In order for providers to be reimbursed for costs incurred by RMA covered individuals, providers must register with RRP by submitting this W-9.  An RMA Provider Manual is available to providers to explain coverage and billing procedures. This manual is posted below. Providers will be reimbursed on the AHCCCS fee-for-service schedule.

Screening appointments are available for all refugees and other eligible beneficiaries and coordinated through the resettling agency and the screening coordinator.  The clinic cannot accommodate walk-ins for the DME.

Note on Public Charge: Refugees and other eligible beneficiaries are not subject to public charge when applying for adjustment of status or other benefits. Enrollment in RMA will not affect a refugees eligibility for other services or immigration status change.

Domestic Medical Examination Service Providers

Arizona Refugee Resettlement Program Medical Support Staff

For more information on RMA, check out these fact sheets created by DES: RMA Client Fact Sheet, RMA Fact Sheet for Community Partners, RMA Provider Manual

The ArizonaHealth Care Cost Containment System (written as AHCCCS and pronounced ‘access’) is Arizona’s Medicaid program, a federal health care program jointly funded by the federal and state governments for individuals and families who qualify based on income level.

If eligible, refugees have a right to apply for AHCCCS at www.azahcccs.gov/

Video available in Arabic, Farsi, English, Kinyarwanda, Spanish, Somali and Swahili.

In Tucson, Pima Council on Aging (PCOA) provides free information on Medicare through both presentations and individual counseling done remotely due to COVID-19. Medicare presentation schedules are at https://www.pcoa.org/ways-we-help/medicare.html/  Individuals can also sign up for one-on-one help understanding Medicare changes and options by calling PCOA’s Help Line: 520-546-2011 or mailing medicare@pcoa.org .

In Phoenix, individuals can get help understanding Medicare options or make an appointment with a free Medicare counselor by calling the Area on Aging Agency Region One’s 24-hour Senior HELP Line at (602) 264-HELP or completing the on-line form at https://www.aaaphx.org/program-services/benefits-assistance-programs/

These videos from the Morrison Institute explain the follow scenarios: Applying for Health Insurance,  The Primary Care Office, SPecialist Care, The Emergency Department, The Urgent Care, Pharmacy, Emotional Wellness, and Scheduling Transportation. Videos are also available in Arabic, Swahili, Spanish, Somali, Kinyarwanda, and Farsi. 

Refugee Women’s Health Clinic

Valleywise Health fully supports refugee communities and their resettlement, and we are committed to offering them the care they deserve, the way they deserve it. The American healthcare system can often feel overwhelming and confusing, especially for those in refugee communities. But we never want this to stop refugee women from receiving the care they need. One of the ways our Refugee Women’s Health Clinic remedies this is by employing members of the refugee community as Cultural Health Navigators to serve as liaisons between the healthcare system and patients. These multilingual, multicultural individuals are incredibly valuable to our community, offering interpretation services to patients throughout our hospitals.

For more information: valleywisehealth.org/services/womens-health/womens-refugee-clinic/

Video available in Arabic, Burmese, Farsi, French, Kirundi, Maay Maay, Nepali, Oromo, Somali, Swahili

MedlinePlus Translated Health Information

MedlinePlus is a service of the National Library of Medicine, the world’s largest medical library, which is part of the National Institutes of Health. MedlinePlus has translated health information on hundreds of topics from baby health check ups to information on high blood pressure. To find all the topics translated in the language you need, click here.

The National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants (NRC-RIM)

The National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants (NRC-RIM) is funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide assistance and resources to state and local health departments working with refugee, immigrant, and migrant communities that have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. More than just a library, NRC-RIM empowers organizations to replicate best practices from across the country, increase their knowledge of key concepts for serving RIM communities, and ultimately serve more people than ever before. On their new website you can find COVID-19 and other health translated materials, COVID-19 vaccine toolkits, and more!

Health Information Translations

This website provides plain language health education resources for health care professionals and others working in communities with limited English proficient populations. The site includes health translations about many health topics from skin cancer to breastfeeding in multiple languages. To see all the health topics and languages they are translated into, click here.

Prevent Poisonings from Carbon Monoxide – King County, WA

Available in Amharic, Arabic, Bosnian,  Burmese, Cambodian,  Chinese, English, Farsi,  French, Hmong, Korean, Laotian, Oromo, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian,  Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, Tigrigna, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.

Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention

These quick fact flyers explain sources of lead, how to clean to avoid lead, and what foods that help lower lead levels. Available in Arabic, English, Kinyarwanda, and Swahili.

International Rescue Committee – Tucson

Community Partnerships and Medical Care Coordination

The IRC in Tucson has established strong partnerships with the Tucson and Pima County healthcare sector, public health authorities, medical providers, facilities, and community agencies. These partnerships provide a web of support that enable vulnerable individuals and families to regain health and stability that may have been lost during displacement. The IRC health program is specifically designed to help clients receive appropriate medical care and health education through the provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate support and to assist clients as they learn to navigate the healthcare system independently. In addition, the IRC Health Team provides training to health providers on how to work with refugee and immigrant populations. Refugees, Cuban-Haitian entrants, individuals with Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) status and individuals with Asylum status are eligible; time limits for time lived in US apply.

Contact: Lizbeth Gonzales, 520-319-2128 x122, Lizbeth.Gonzales@rescue.org

Health Education

The IRC’s Health Program provides individualized health education for clients on topics such as health literacy, navigating the US healthcare system, COVID-19 prevention and mitigation, women’s health, and medication adherence. These topics are taught in ways that are both culturally and linguistically appropriate for clients. The IRC in Tucson has leveraged its partnerships with community-based organizations, universities, and health entities to share knowledge, develop materials and create delivery methods specific to immigrant and refugee populations. Refugees, Cuban-Haitian entrants, individuals with Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) status and individuals with Asylum status are eligible; time limits for time lived in US apply.

Contact: Lizbeth Gonzales, 520-319-2128 x122, Lizbeth.Gonzales@rescue.org

COVID-19 Programming

Since the coronavirus outbreak, the IRC has incorporated new efforts to address the growing public health needs of refugee and immigrant communities. IRC teams developed and use effective tools and methods to communicate with marginalized communities regarding coronavirus prevention, mitigation, and response. IRC in Tucson was awarded funding by the Arizona Health Department to partner with the Pima County Health Department to create and disseminate additional COVID-19 health education materials with community health worker support; coordinate mobile COVID-19 testing campaigns; and provide rapid-response case management and care coordination to individuals from communities of color who have tested COVID-19 positive.  Wrap-around case management services ensure that individuals who are COVID-19 positive understand isolation directives and are able to abide by isolation protocols. Case management services include COVID-19 health education, telemedicine care coordination, scheduling safe transportation to health services, arranging for delivery of food resources, PPR and hygiene products, applying for emergency relief funds, financial coaching and support in applying for public benefits and referral to mental health services.

Contact: Lizbeth Gonzales, 520-319-2128 x122, Lizbeth.Gonzales@rescue.org