New Jersey’s Federally Qualified Health Centers Ready for “The Affordable Care Act”.

Sept. 27, 2013 - PRLog -- In just four days, people across the country will begin to access affordable health insurance through the new health insurance marketplace, and the New Jersey Primary Care Association’s 20 Federally Qualified Health Centers are in the throes of planning and training to help link New Jersey’s nearly one million uninsured residents with new coverage options.

The Affordable Care Act, signed into law in 2010, provides tax credits for working individuals and establishes the Health Insurance Marketplace for consumers to buy private insurance.  Health insurance plans in the Marketplace, which opens on October 1, are required to cover basic services like preventive care, prescriptions, maternity care, emergency care, dental care for children, and other essential health benefits.  In New Jersey, the Center for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS) has oversight of the Health Insurance Marketplace and has been out in full force at FQHC events, meetings and trainings to ensure that health centers are ready to provide hands-on assistance to existing patients and the community at-large.

Much of the hands-on assistance to patients and consumers will be provided by newly hired outreach and enrollment staff.  New Jersey’s community health centers received 3.4 million dollars in funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to hire 69 additional outreach and enrollment workers, who will assist 73,201 people with enrollment into affordable health insurance coverage.  These new staff members, combined with an already robust staff of outreach workers and financial counselors, are already helping their communities by disseminating and promoting information on how to prepare for the impending health care changes.

“We are very pleased with the level of enthusiasm and motivation of our new staff members who have been hired to assist patients and community members in understanding the Marketplace and enrolling in a health plan,” says Katherine Grant Davis, President and CEO at NJPCA.  “The newly hired outreach and enrollment staff must pass an examination to become Certified Application Counselors before they can assist patients with enrollment,” she added.

New Jersey’s Federally Qualified Health Centers will continue to assist patients with enrollment in Medicaid and New Jersey Family Care.  “This is something we have always done and will continue to do,” says Leslie Morris, Director of Community Relations at NJPCA.  In 2012, close to 45% of the patient users at health centers were Medicaid recipients.   This is not expected to change come October 1^st.  “Our patient base will continue to be those with Medicaid or are Medicaid eligible,” adds Morris.  With Medicaid expansion in New Jersey, an additional 293,000 adults will be newly eligible for Medicaid, many of whom will become new health center users.

To “kick-off” the Affordable Care Act on October 1, health centers across the state have planned a number of events targeted to patients and the community at-large.  Additionally, in an effort to reach consumers who are not in attendance at these events, outreach and enrollment staff will ask adult participants to distribute literature, flyers, brochures and other materials to at least two additional people (friends, relatives, co-workers, neighbors, etc.) on the availability of health insurance through the Marketplace.  The “Touch Two Campaign” is intended to widely reach consumers who may not be aware of the Affordable Care Act and will utilize literature developed by CMS.  The literature will provide an “800” number for consumers to call with questions and concerns.

Some key events are:

September 30

1:00 – 4:00 PM

Event Location:  Newark City Hall, Room B-2, 920 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey

Health Center: Newark Homeless Health Care (The City of Newark, Department of Child and Family Well-Being)

110 William Street, Newark, NJ

The City of Newark, Department of Child and Family Well-Being staff will assist residents who do not have health insurance understand how they can enroll in a health care plan. Staff will host a series of educational sessions about the Health Insurance Marketplace. During these sessions, presenters will provide information about the marketplace and how Newark residents can enroll in a health plan, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP).

September 30
7:00 PM
Location: Lakewood Municipal Building
Health Center: Ocean Health Initiatives
Address: 101 Second Street, Lakewood, NJ  08701

Informational table with literature and staff to answer questions and guide consumers through the process.

October 1
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: 101 Second Street, Lakewood, NJ  08701
Health Center: Ocean Health Initiatives
Address: 101 Second Street, Lakewood, NJ  08701

Enroll Here!  Certified Application Counselors will be on hand to assist with enrollment in the Marketplace.
Informational table with literature and staff to answer questions and guide consumers through the process.

October 1
Name of Health Center: CompleteCare Health Network
Address 53 South Laurel Street, Bridgeton, NJ

The “Outreach Challenge” will include a team of people who will spend the day in three counties (Cumberland, Gloucester and Cape May) and to disseminate information about the Affordable Care Act along with a calendar of events for the entire month of May.

October 1 – October 2
Name of Health Center: Project HOPE
Address:  622 Cooper Street, Camden, NJ

Project HOPE to participate in the Campaign to Cover Camden Rally. Patricia Deshields, CEO at Project HOPE, is a speaker at this event.

October 1 - October 2
Where: East Orange, NJ

Description: New Jersey State Senator Nia Gill is hosting an event/press conference with the New Jersey Primary Care Association and local FQHC that will focus on enrollment in Northern New Jersey.

October 1
8:30 – 11:00 AM
Location: 18 West Blackwell Street, Dover, NJ
Name of Health Center: Zufall Health Center
Address: 18 West Blackwell Street, Dover, NJ

Breakfast and informational session to kick-off the Affordable Care ACT.

October 1

Name of Health Center: Henry J. Austin Health Center

Location: 321 North Warren St. Trenton, NJ

Informational session to kick-off the Affordable Care ACT.