About the Refugee Health Program Wisconsin’s Refugee Health Program works with private sponsor agencies, refugee resettlement agencies, and private health care providers. Together they: Make sure refugees receive a full health exam when they arrive to the U.S. Coordinate refugee health screenings with federal and state resettlement partners Help screening providers understand the health needs of refugee populations Support culturally-informed care Advocate for the use of qualified medical interpreters Coordinate refugee health concerns with programs in the Department of Health Services (DHS) People who can get the health screening include: Refugees Asylees Cuban/Haitian entrants Victims of trafficking Amerasians Afghan or Ukrainian humanitarian parolees Special Immigrant Visa holders What is Refugee Health? Refugee health includes all the unique barriers and solutions to quality care for refugees. It also means making sure those who resettle in the U.S. obtain required screenings. Before arriving to the U.S, refugees must have an overseas panel physician exam. Refugees also have an initial refugee medical screening shortly after getting to the U.S. This is different from the exam that refugees have overseas. Upon arrival, refugees go through the process of: Obtaining refugee medical screening Finding temporary and long-term care and health insurance Learning about language and cultural differences Identifying and treating health complications specific to the refugee experience (e.g., trauma, disruption of care, etc.) Refugee health care requires specialized efforts. These efforts help to ensure health equity for those who resettle in our country. In Wisconsin, this includes providing: Trauma and culturally informed care Oral health promotion Support for victims of human trafficking and female genital mutilation Refugee Medical Screening Refugee medical screening is a thorough physical exam. It includes comprehensive screening for diseases that can be spread from person to person. The screening aims to: Follow-up on any medical issues found in the refugee’s overseas medical screening Identify diseases that can spread quickly from person to person in close quarters in large groups Find personal health conditions that could make it difficult for a refugee to resettle Connect refugees to a primary care provider for ongoing health care. For more information, please visit our Refugee Health: Medical Screening page. Refugees and other visa holders may apply for a green card (adjustment of status) in the United States. They are required to undergo an immigration medical examination. The examination must be done by a doctor who is designated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). USCIS designates certain doctors (known as civil surgeons) to perform the immigration medical examination required for most green card applicants. Please see USCIS's website to find a civil surgeon and learn more about adjustment of status. Refugee Health Concerns There are several health concerns, both acute and chronic, that may arise through the refugee experience, and which are often seen within resettled groups. These specific areas include but are not limited to: Chronic illness not treatable during migration Infectious disease that is made worse by living in close quarters in large groups Mental health illness resulting from flight, migration, and/or resettlement Neglected dental and eye care. For specific medical concerns, see our Refugee Health: For Health Professionals page. There you can find several resources for: Dental care Medical screening Trauma-informed mental health care Insurance Refugee Cash and Medical Assistance—Details on the Refugee Cash Assistance Program and Refugee Medical Assistance. The page outlines who can apply and how. Income Maintenance and Tribal Agency Contact Information—Information on how to access Medicaid benefits within Wisconsin. Questions? Contact us: Email dcfrefugee@wisconsin.gov Call (414) 270-4744 *DISCLAIMER: Some state and federal agencies are reviewing their websites. Some of the links on this page may have been recently updated.
