Healthcare Provider Referrals for Financial Support in Low-Income Families

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of California, Los Angeles

Disqualifiers: Acute mental health crisis

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether healthcare providers can assist low-income parents in obtaining tax credits by referring them to a tax filing app. The goal is to determine if these referrals simplify tax filing for parents and improve their family's health. Participants will include parents with a child under 6, earning less than $75,000 a year, who have a tax ID and internet access. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity for parents to potentially enhance their financial and health outcomes through innovative support.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for this trial?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, since the study focuses on tax filing and not medical treatment, it's unlikely that you would need to change your medication routine.

What prior data suggests that this referral method is safe?

Research has shown that referrals from healthcare providers are generally safe. In this study, healthcare providers will suggest that patients use a tax filing app. Since no medical treatment is involved, there are no risks like those in drug trials. Referrals are common in healthcare and are usually well-received. In this case, the referral is simply a recommendation to try a useful tool, not a medical procedure or medication. Participants can feel confident in the safety of this approach, based on past experiences in healthcare. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores a novel approach to financial support for low-income families by utilizing healthcare provider referrals to a tax filing app. Unlike traditional assistance programs that may require multiple steps and agencies, this method integrates financial support directly into healthcare visits. This streamlined approach could make it easier for families to access financial resources, potentially improving both financial and health outcomes. The integration of financial support into healthcare settings is a unique feature that could lead to more comprehensive care and reduce financial stress for families.

What evidence suggests that healthcare provider referrals to a tax filing app could be effective for increasing tax credit receipt among low-income parents?

Research shows that healthcare providers can assist low-income families in obtaining tax credits. In this trial, participants will receive a referral from a healthcare provider to a tax filing app. Studies have found that when healthcare providers recommend tax filing services, more families file their taxes. This is important because filing taxes can result in receiving tax credits, which provide financial support. Such support can reduce stress and enhance health. Many studies support the connection between financial stability and improved health. By recommending tax filing apps, healthcare providers might enhance both the financial situation and health of these families. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for low-income parents with a child under 6, earning less than $75,000 annually. Participants must have internet access and a valid tax filing ID. It aims to help them get tax credits by using a healthcare provider-referred tax app.

Inclusion Criteria

You have a device that can connect to the internet.

I have at least one child under 6 years old.

You have a Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Intervention

Participants receive a referral to a tax filing app during program visits

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants complete a follow-up survey to assess outcome measures after receiving tax refunds

3-6 months

2 visits (virtual)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Healthcare provider referral to a tax filing app

Trial Overview The study tests if referrals from healthcare providers to use a tax filing app can increase the number of low-income families receiving tax credits. About 100 women will be surveyed before, immediately after, and six months post-tax season.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This arm will receive a healthcare provider referral to a tax filing app

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of California, Los Angeles

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,594

Recruited

10,430,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A new electronic health record (EHR)-based system allowed 26 clinicians to submit 217 adverse drug event (ADE) reports to the FDA in real-time, demonstrating an efficient method for reporting that took an average of just 53 seconds per report.

The system provided detailed clinical information about the ADEs, including comorbid conditions and concurrent medications, which could enhance the quality of data submitted to the FDA and potentially improve drug safety monitoring.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Secondary use of electronic health record data: spontaneous triggered adverse drug event reporting. Linder, JA., Haas, JS., Iyer, A., et al.[2019]

In a study analyzing data from nine US states, it was found that counties with lower rates of electronic prescribing had a 10% higher odds of older adults being hospitalized due to adverse drug events, indicating a potential safety concern.

The research suggests that increasing the use of electronic prescribing could help reduce the risk of adverse drug events in older patients, highlighting the importance of health IT in improving patient safety.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Community-level electronic prescribing and adverse drug event hospitalizations among older adults. Bhavsar, GP., Probst, JC., Bennett, KJ., et al.[2020]

Medical-Financial Partnerships (MFPs) are innovative collaborations between healthcare systems and financial organizations aimed at reducing financial stress in low-income families, which can lead to improved health outcomes.

MFPs provide a range of financial services, such as coaching and tax preparation, and have shown promise in enhancing both financial stability and health, addressing the link between financial circumstances and health in marginalized communities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Medical-Financial Partnerships: Cross-Sector Collaborations Between Medical and Financial Services to Improve Health. Bell, ON., Hole, MK., Johnson, K., et al.[2023]

County-based health care financial assistance programs significantly improve access to care for uninsured and undocumented populations, with strong correlations between program enrollment and the percentage of uninsured (r=0.86) and undocumented individuals (r=0.83).

These programs typically cover the same income range as Medicaid (0-138% of the federal poverty level) and provide similar benefits, including emergency and inpatient care, making them a crucial alternative for those ineligible for Medicaid.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Characteristics of Health Care Financial Assistance Programs Serving the Most Populous U.S. Counties. Zhu, M., Srinivasan, N., Karpe, A., et al.[2022]

The MOVING program, a virtual interdisciplinary geriatric consultation service, effectively reduced the number of potentially inappropriate medications prescribed to older adults, with significant decreases noted in prescriptions identified by the Beers and STOPP criteria.

While the overall number of prescriptions did not significantly change, the program led to a notable reduction in 'as needed' prescriptions, suggesting improved medication management for older patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Outcomes of a Medication Optimization Virtual Interdisciplinary Geriatric Specialist (MOVING) Program: A Feasibility Study. Ho, JM., To, E., Sammy, R., et al.[2023]

The FDA's ASTER pilot study demonstrated that electronic health record (EHR)-triggered adverse event reports can provide valuable postmarketing safety information, particularly for known adverse drug events (ADEs).

However, the quality of the reports varied, with many lacking critical details such as informative descriptions and relevant laboratory data, highlighting the need for improved data quality to enhance the utility of EHR-triggered ADE reporting.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Quality assessment of spontaneous triggered adverse event reports received by the Food and Drug Administration. Brajovic, S., Piazza-Hepp, T., Swartz, L., et al.[2012]

Half of the family physicians (50%) enrolled in the Targeted Poverty Screening (TPS) Program, and a significant majority (81.6%) reported screening patients for poverty using a specific evidence-based question, indicating a general willingness to address socioeconomic factors in patient care.

Barriers to poverty screening included forgetfulness and discomfort, suggesting that integrating screening into routine practices and providing additional training could enhance the effectiveness and uptake of poverty screening among family physicians.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improving Health Equity by Screening for Poverty: A Survey of Family Physician Screening Behaviors and Perceptions in Toronto, Canada. Chin, C., Amri, M., Greiver, M., et al.[2022]

As of December 2010, nearly 40% of active e-prescribers adopted the technology due to federal incentives, indicating a significant impact of financial motivation on the adoption of e-prescribing.

The federal incentive program led to a 9-11% increase in e-prescribing among existing users, translating to an additional 6.8-8.2 prescriptions per provider each month, showcasing the effectiveness of incentives in enhancing healthcare technology use.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

E-prescribing adoption and use increased substantially following the start of a federal incentive program. Joseph, SB., Sow, MJ., Furukawa, MF., et al.[2018]

Primary care physicians (PCPs) who work with nurse practitioners and physician assistants (NP-PAs) are more likely to manage complex patient conditions themselves rather than referring them to specialists, suggesting that NP-PAs enhance the capacity of PCPs to provide comprehensive care.

The study indicates that managed care factors influence referral patterns, but this effect is mediated by the increased use of NP-PAs, highlighting their role in allowing PCPs to focus on more complex cases and reduce unnecessary referrals.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Determinants of primary care physicians' referral pattern: a structural equation model approach. Chung, K., Yang, D., Lee, JH.[2021]

Patients with low financial status (7467 individuals) reported 10% to 30% lower satisfaction with healthcare services and collaborative care compared to those with adequate financial status (43,701 individuals).

Markers of disease management and prevention were also significantly lower (7% to 18%) in patients with low financial status, highlighting that financial disparities negatively impact health outcomes and access to quality care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Postscript: health disparity and collaborative care. Wasson, JH., Benjamin, R.[2019]

Embedding a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site within a pediatric medical home (PMH) proved to be a convenient and trusted resource for caregivers, potentially changing their tax-filing behaviors.

Many caregivers were unaware of the free tax filing services available through the PMH-VITA site, indicating a need for better marketing to increase awareness and utilization among the target population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Medical Financial Partnership in a Pediatric Medical Home. Markowitz, MA., Harper, A., Rosenthal, MS., et al.[2022]

The pilot study 'TAX4U' assessed the feasibility of providing free tax services to families in a pediatric hospital, but only 7 out of 39 families (18%) ultimately received the intervention, indicating challenges in reaching eligible participants.

Most families (72%) were ineligible for the tax service due to criteria not aligning with their needs, suggesting that future efforts should focus on creating more inclusive medical-financial partnerships to better support low-income families in hospital settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

TAX4U Pilot Trial: Addressing Material Needs in the Pediatric Hospital Setting. van den Heuvel, M., Zaffar, N., Shah, B., et al.[2023]

Requiring physicians to submit adverse event reports to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) could significantly improve the quantity and quality of reports, enhancing the ability to determine causality for drug-related issues.

This proposed requirement aligns with existing practices in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and could be facilitated by advancements in electronic health records, ultimately supporting better drug safety monitoring.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

FDA Adverse Event Reporting System: Recruiting Doctors to Make Surveillance a Little Less Passive. Mann, JM.[2015]

Citations

1. centerwatch.com centerwatch.com/clinical-trials/listings/NCT05612685/healthcare-providers-as-trusted-messengers-to-increase-receipt-of-tax-credits-among-low-income-families

Healthcare Providers as Trusted Messengers to Increase ... The purpose of this study is to pilot test the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of healthcare provider referrals to a ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11621975/

Medical‐financial partnerships for improving financial and ... The purpose of this review is to inform policy and practice relevant to MFPs by analyzing and synthesizing empirical evidence related to their health and ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10561025/

PROTOCOL: Medical‐financial partnerships for improving ... Services provided by the programs include financial coaching, tax preparation services, credit counseling, debt consolidation and forgiveness, and ...

4. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/350537040_Impacting_Poverty_with_Medical_Financial_Partnerships_Focused_on_Tax_Incentives

Impacting Poverty with Medical Financial Partnerships ... On-site MFP interventions can offer a suite of financial services, including financial counseling, financial coaching, tax preparation services, ...

5. digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1524&context=childrenatrisk

Addressing Economic Drivers of Health in the Clinic These services include financial coaching, employment support, tax preparation, and help with public benefits enrollment. In the past decade ...

6. aha.org aha.org/fact-sheets/2025-02-07-fact-sheet-medicaid-provider-taxes

Fact Sheet: Medicaid Provider Taxes | AHA The AHA calls on Congress to reject changes to states' use of provider taxes, which help fund their Medicaid programs.

7. cms.gov cms.gov/data-research/research/consumer-assessment-healthcare-providers-systems

Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers & Systems ... These surveys ask patients (or in some cases their families) about their experiences with, and ratings of, their health care providers and plans.

8. irs.gov irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4961.pdf

Publication 4961 (Rev. 10-2025) All coordinators must have a process in place to ensure every tax return is timely electronically filed or delivered to the taxpayer. Refer to Publication 1345, ...

9. insurance.ca.gov insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/110-health/60-resources/nosuprisebills.cfm

Consumer Protection from Surprise Medical Bills Beginning July 1, 2017, California law protects consumers from surprise medical bills when they get non-emergency services, go to an in-network health facility.