HITE Case Study
Here's how HITE can help a typical uninsured client, such as Ms. P, who needs a range of services to help
manage her diabetes.*
Background
Ms. P is a 43-year-old, Spanish-speaking domestic worker with no health insurance. She walks into her
local community center in East Harlem to talk with a social worker about the problems she has managing her
diabetes.
Ms. P has not seen a doctor since losing her Medicaid insurance two years ago, when her annual income of
$17,000 was deemed too high to qualify for coverage. She prefers a Spanish-speaking health care provider so
that she can fully understand the diagnosis and follow-up care instructions. She also needs help paying for
her medication (Glucotrol, manufactured by Pfizer), and an eye exam because she suspects that the diabetes is
affecting her eyesight.
HITE saves time in finding a clinic
The caseworker logs on to www.hitesite.org and searches for a clinic in Ms. P's zip code with a sliding fee
scale, Spanish-speaking staff, and physicians who can treat diabetes. In less than 30 seconds, the caseworker
finds two clinics that fit Ms. P's criteria: the Helen B. Atkinson Center and Settlement Health. She prints
out directions to the clinics, street maps, and fact sheets about each clinic.
Free drugs, eye care and more
The caseworker also uses HITE to identify resources to help Ms. P pay for her medication. A search of the
prescriptions drug section at www.hitesite.org shows that Pfizer
sponsors a program offering free Glucotrol to low-income patients. The program guidelines and application
are available online, so the caseworker helps Ms. P begin filling out the application.
Finally, the caseworker finds a foundation called EyeCare America that provides free eye care exams and
follow-up care to low-income diabetics. A toll-free phone number gives Ms. P the names of ophthalmologists
in her community who offer free eye screenings, and vendors who sell low-cost lenses and frames.
*Ms. P is a composite of a typical uninsured person.