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Medicaid enrollment moves to the grassroots level
Community-based Medicaid enrollment has begun to fulfill the promise of the Health Authority, according to Gail Warden, chair of the Health Authority's Board of Directors. Speaking to representatives of 11 local human service organizations March 25, he said, "The ability to do Medicaid outreach and have success was a glimmer in our eyes four years ago. We believe this effort has just begun and has the potential of being a model for the country."
Grants of up to $10,000 were awarded to the community organizations at a day-long workshop that provided training in the fine points of successful Medicaid applications. The Health Authority maintains a 90 percent success rate in achieving enrollment status from its applications. The grant awards represent the first phase of a process that will involve other community organizations and result in a total of $300,000 in grants.
Most of the initial grant awards were given to agencies working in the area served by the East Side Planning Team. The community group leaders participated in a day-long training program designed to familiarize them with:
- Categories of Medicaid
- Enrollment and eligibility requirements
- How to assist community residents in completing the application process
- Approved Medicaid outreach activities
- Electronic application and presumptive eligibility requirements for specific categories of Medicaid and MI Child
The training was coordinated by the Health Authority and presented by Michigan Department of Community Health and Maximus. The grantees will now be certified to assist applicants with the electronic application process and organizations providing medical services will be able to provide eligible applicants with a guaranteed payment letter immediately upon application completion and tentative approval.
The process is reminiscent of the time when public health nurses canvassed local neighborhoods, identifying health needs and referring people to resources, explained Chris Allen, executive director of the Health Authority. "We will hit every house in the four zip codes (covered by the East Side Planning Team) to determine who has insurance and getting them into a medical home. It's the first time in a long time this has been accomplished in this city."
Also important in this process is the community-based, decentralized approach that the Health Authority is pursuing, he said. "We believe that the best results in community outreach is to find people and organizations that are good at what they do and ask them to help you. These grants represent the greater partnership we have with community organizations in making connections between the uninsured and health services." |
United Way, World Medical Relief, Health Authority collaborate to promote prescription assistance through 2-1-1 help line
Uninsured and underinsured people in Detroit and Wayne County will now be able to take advantage of the World Medical Relief Prescription Assistance Program as part of a collaboration between World Medical Relief, the Detroit Wayne County Health Authority and United Way of Southeastern Michigan's 2-1-1 help line.
Those who need discount prescription drug service, as well as medical equipment, need only call 2-1-1 and ask for a referral to the World Medical Relief. The Health Authority will soon begin to promote this capability through public service announcements and through its community outreach services. |
Health Authority establishes partnership with Michigan Primary Care Association
The Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA) and the Detroit Wayne County Health Authority have announced a partnership that will include staff support and other collaborative opportunities. Neil Colburn, director of Quality Improvement at MPCA, has begun working on projects relating to the Primary Care Network Council.
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Backgrounder
Nearly two people die daily in Michigan because they lack health insurance
It's a statistic that is seldom seen, but nearly two people die every day in Michigan because of factors related to inadequate or no health insurance, according to a study conducted by Families USA. The report is the first state-specific report and is based on a 2002 study by the Institute of Medicine which linked lack of health coverage with deaths from health-related causes.
For example, uninsured people are more likely to be diagnosed with an advanced state of diseases such as cancer, which greatly reduces their chance of survival. Families USA estimates that between 2000 and 2006, more than 4,200 adults 25 to 64 died because they didn't have health insurance.
For more information visit www.familiesusa.org. |
Health plans discuss shifting Medicaid patients to FQHCs
The Health Authority convened a meeting of local Medicaid managed care plans, on March 20, to determine how they could help increase volume at federally qualified health centers (FQHC) with Medicaid patients. Medicaid reimbursement provides revenue for the FQHCs to support care of increased numbers of uninsured.
Ricardo Guzman, CEO of CHASS, Inc., and Anthony V. King, executive director and CEO of The Wellness Plan, represented the Primary Care Network Council (PCNC) at the meeting. Also in attendance were Bill Hart, director of the Bureau of Policy, Planning and Access for the Michigan Department of Community Health.
"Our primary goal for this meeting was to move Medicaid patients to FQHCs," explained Chris Allen, executive director and CEO of the Health Authority. "It was remarkable to see the collaboration among the health plan executives and the FQHC leadership."
Representatives from Midwest Health Plan, Health Plan of Michigan, Inc., Omnicare health Plan, Inc., Procare Health Plan, Inc., and Molina HealthCare of Michigan attended the meeting. They agreed in principal to refer more Medicaid patients to FQHCs. A follow-up meeting is being scheduled.
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The Detroit Wayne County Health Authority's mission is to coordinate efforts to meet the health needs of the uninsured and underinsured residents in Detroit and Wayne County by assuring access and improving the health status of all people.
"It's about access...for all."
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