Healthcare and Medical Forensic Exams for Patients Experiencing Sexual Assault: Access and Payment When the Survivor is an Immigrant-Access and Payment for Immigrants recording

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Video Summary

The webinar, hosted by Corinne Grzelik, a forensic nurse specialist with the International Association of Forensic Nurses, discussed various aspects of medical forensic exams for sexual assault survivors, particularly focusing on immigrant survivors. Supported by a grant from the Office on Violence Against Women at the U.S. Department of Justice, the webinar featured Leslie Orloff from the National Immigrant Women's Advocacy Project (NIWAP) and covered legal requirements, reimbursement processes, and available resources for medical forensic exams.<br /><br />The discussion included:<br />1. Definition and components of medical forensic exams covered by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).<br />2. Processes to ensure immigrant survivors are not charged for rape kits and forensic exams.<br />3. Challenges in receiving payment for medical forensic exams, particularly when performed across state lines or when the assault occurred in another state or country.<br />4. Legal requirements for states to cover the cost of medical forensic exams without requiring police reports.<br />5. Additional healthcare and mental health services available to immigrant survivors, such as Federally Qualified Health Centers and SAMHSA-funded community mental health clinics.<br />6. Various types of immigration relief available to survivors, including VAWA self-petitions, U visas, and T visas, which could assist in gaining legal status and accessing benefits.<br />7. Detailed state-by-state resources provided by NIWAP to help navigate the complexities of forensic exam coverage, emergency Medicaid, and other public benefits.<br /><br />Participants were encouraged to use these resources and technical assistance from both NIWAP and the International Association of Forensic Nurses to support their work with sexual assault survivors more effectively.

Keywords

forensic nurse

medical forensic exams

sexual assault survivors

immigrant survivors

Violence Against Women Act

rape kits

legal requirements

healthcare services

mental health services

immigration relief

NIWAP

emergency Medicaid