ACA Navigator Work PATRICIA MCMANUS, RN, PHD, CNPM PRESIDENT & - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

ACA Navigator Work

PATRICIA MCMANUS, RN, PHD, CNPM PRESIDENT & CEO NATIONAL HEALTHY START ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE, MARCH 31, 2014

Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin

Community-based health advocacy organization Celebrated 25th anniversary in October, 2013 Agency goal is to address the health problems of African Americans and other underserved populations The mission of the Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin, Inc. is to improve the health status of African Americans in the state of Wisconsin and to insure equitable and comprehensive health for all people. Program areas: Milwaukee Healthy Beginnings Project, HIV/AIDS Program, Wisconsin African American Eliminating Health Disparities Institute, Affordable Care Act

Wisconsin ACA/Medicaid Overview

State has chosen not to increase access to Medicaid for those above the FPL. In fact, Wisconsin eliminated BadgerCare+ program recipients for adults over 100% of FPL. Of the almost 97,000 statewide who will no longer be eligible, it is estimated that 17,000 will come from Milwaukee County. Children can stay on until 2019. State will now cover all childless adults who are under 100% of FPL. Wisconsin has a federal facilitated Marketplace Exchange

Navigator Agencies in Milwaukee

National Healthy Start Association, Local: Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin, Inc. Service Area: Milwaukee County National Council of Urban Indian Health, Local: Gerald Ignace Indian Health Center, Inc. (Local Urban Indian Health Program (UIHP) in Milwaukee Service Area: Indian Population in Milwaukee County Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc./SeniorLAW Service Area: Milwaukee, Waukesha, Walworth, Washington, Ozaukee, Racine, Kenosha counties. Serves populations between the ages of 60-64. There were only three other grantees in the State of Wisconsin, they are

• utside of Milwaukee county

BHCW ACA Start Up

Began education and outreach activities in August Completed contract with NHSA in mid October Navigators hired & completed State & Federal training Internal protocols established and refined Agency license process not completed until February, 2014 Obtained equipment for field enrollment Received additional funding from Milwaukee County to hire an additional Navigator, January, 2014

BHCW’s Navigator Team

• Dr. McManus

Navigator

Teresa Boyd Navigator Ozell Cox Navigator Leolia Townsend Navigator Bianca Williams Navigator Clarene Mitchell Event Scheduling, Logistics & Media Jim Addison, Marlo Blackhawk, Johnny King, Jennifer Uppena Assisters

Outreach Strategy

 As a trusted information in the community, BHCW uses its positive reputation to advance ACA by; Utilizing existing BHCW program meetings to provide ACA education/enrollment Utilizing existing BHCW partnerships with area churches and organizations for ACA outreach and education Developing new BHCW partnerships with area churches and organization for ACA

• utreach and education

Offering agency office hours for enrollment Having standing community sites for enrollment (Social Development Commission, Church, State Senator’s Office, Hair King Barber Shop, etc.) Focusing on quality of service that is provided, versus just simply achieving client number counts

Outreach Samples, Events & Flyers

Impact of BHCW’s ACA work

August 1 – December 31, 2013 Events - 35 Number of attendees at events – 2,077 Assister contacts – 625 Total – 2,702

BHCW’s ACA Media

BHCW has been featured on all of the network TV news station for ACA interviews; as well as public television shows , cable public access shows, Milwaukee & National Public Radio and the African American radio stations BHCW will receive an award in April for an ACA show that was on cable public access in December 2013. This was for a LGBT show  The local media sees BHCW as ACA experts and ready reference BHCW has strategically utilized the African American print media for PSAs and ads BHCW website & Facebook page is utilized to promote BHCW ACA events and keeps the community informed of ACA news.

BHCW’s Media Samples

BHCW’s ACA Success Stories

Client Testimony

BHCW’s President/CEO received a thank you card from an ACA client in Edgerton, WI stating, “Thank you for all your time and assistance in helping me to ‘navigate’ through the Healthcare.gov system. Your determination to find answers to the questions I had been unable to get answered was a ‘God send.’ So though I have paid my first month’s premium for my new insurance and am grateful for, that it is your gift of sprit of people helping other people that lightened my heart and restored hope.”

Client Testimony

BHCW staff received this voicemail message from a client who had previously been very frustrated with health insurance options and was resistant to apply, “Thanks for keeping an eye on me, pushing and helping to assist. Everything worked out perfect for me. I appreciate you stepping outside of the box and comfort zone to work with a ’hard head.’ I am now enrolled in a health plan , I am so excited! I had a mammogram already and I am setting up a dental appointment. This is a true example of what can happen for the positive!”

BHCW’s ACA Lessons Learned

 For any new program, there must be flexibility by both funders and grantees to allow for changes

which further program goals. Such as: 1. Identify priorities of roles to address the needs of clients who ask for assistance. For Example, BHCW has clearly spent 80% of its time assisting potential clients in navigating the system rather than just enrollment. 2. Design more strategies that address the needs of various populations. This program was clearly development to work on line, when a large portion of the population we worked with were not comfortable working on the computer. Inaccurate information about the role of the navigators were given to clients by the marketplace and we had to deal with the frustration and anger of clients when they found out this was not true. For example, making home visits; able to see plans without a marketplace account; could fix the marketplace when it was not functioning; getting different information from the marketplace depending on who you talked to; clients eligible for tax credits but not receiving them, had to go through a 90 day appeal process even though it was clear that the marketplace was wrong.

BHCW’s Next Steps…Plans for the Future

Continue to provide ACA outreach, education and enrollment assistance for Marketplace (Qualifying Life Events) Assist clients with Marketplace appeals Ready community for next Marketplace open enrollment period, November 15, 2014- February 15, 2015. For next six months target Childless Adults under 100% of FPL for enrollment in Medicaid.

Contact Information

Patricia McManus, RN, PhD, CNPM

President & CEO Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin, Inc. 3020 W. Vliet Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53208 Phone: (414) 933-0064 Email: pmcmanus@bhcw.org Website: www.bhcw.org