Successful Outreach & Enrollment Strategies For Homeless People in the Affordable Care Act Yakima Neighborhood Health Services Rhonda Hauff Chief Operating Officer / Deputy CEO
1 Neighborhood Connections Health Care for the Homeless 3 Housing 2 Homeless Respite 4 Homeless Resource Center, HEN & Basic Needs Assistance Outreach & Enrollment Opportunities
Patient Registration – Identifying Who’s Homeless
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54% of our Homeless were Uninsured in 2013
Point in Time / Project Homeless Connect
Cross Training Staff to Enroll in Health Coverage is Key Dedicated Patient Navigators (3) Health Care for the Homeless Outreach staff (3) Housing Specialists (5) WIC Certifiers (3) Maternity Support Case Managers (2) Reception / Billing staff (6) Dental Reception (1) Behavioral Health Specialist (1) 7
Other Reasons Homeless People Come to Us Consolidated Homeless Grants (CHG) State support to Counties / CACs Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) State support to Counties / CACs Housing & Essential Needs (HEN) Dept. of Commerce to Counties Clients already on Medicaid- but often attached to uninsured Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) 8
Experienced Outreach Only
Preparing Clients for What They Should Know
Roles for Community Partners o In-Person Assister (IPA) Training and having an IPA certified through the Health Benefit Exchange (requires hours of training & successfully passing the state certification exam.) o Hosting a location for a certified IPA to assist clients on a regularly scheduled basis. o Hosting a special event for a presentation / Q&A session and assistance. o Willingness to distribute Outreach & Assistance information.
Homeless Service Providers -- Opportunities
13 SSI Recipients SSI related clients Medicare Savings Program Nursing Home clients Alien Emergency Medical (AEM ) For additional benefits (TANF, SNAP, etc, customers will apply here in Washington Connections - a “virtual handoff” from the HPF
PEOPLE WHO DON’T WORK / DON’T FILE TAXES Know how your state deals with this ! Washington State guidance : Self Attestation of Income accepted MEDS unit looks at ACES (SNAP, cash, Medicaid eligibility system). Random sample will be reviewed According to Health Care Authority, the focus will be on: Data matches showing income over Medicaid standard. 14
Homeless Youth The Issue of “Legal Contracts” HCA will now offer a contact person to assist in the processing of homeless teen applications: ▪ Applications are being processed by telephone
Don’t Forget - Medicaid Plan Choice 16
Questions –