āāāāHow Can New Arrivals Get a Free Medical Screening in California?
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The Refugee Health Assessment Program (RHAP) is a free medical exam that includes tuberculous (TB) testing and vaccines. The exam also covers vaccines that are needed for green card applications. The exam is open to newly arrived refugees, asylees, victims of human trafficking, Special Immigrant Visa holders, and humanitarian parolees from Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, and Ukraine. The following counties have RHAP clinics: Alameda, Contāra Costa, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Stanislaus. Visit the RHAP County Clinics webpage for the list of RHAP clinics in California.
RHAP clinics ask patients to split their medical exam in to two visits. During the first visit, lab tests and vaccines are done. The first visit should take place within 30 days of arriving in California. The second visit covers a physical exam, lab follow ups, and referrals to needed specialty medical care. The second visit should be done within 90 days of arriving in California. You should have Medi-Cal before scheduling your appointment with the RHAP clinic after 90 days.
If you live in a county that does not have a RHAP clinic, the Office of Refugee Health has created Health Screening Guidelines for Clinicians (PDF). Please print out this document and take it to your first primary care appointment. This will help your doctor understand the health conditions that are common with new arrivals. It also has advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.ā
If you are experiencingā delays in connecting into a primary care provider (PCP) or a medical home for your care and you need immediate vaccines or tuberculosis testing, please visit the links below for additional resources.