NEWS RELEASE: Genesee Health Plan one of 34 organizations nationwide to receive federal grant to help people enroll in health care coverage

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) grant will boost GHP’s efforts to enroll uninsured Mid-Michigan residents in health care coverage

FLINT – The Genesee Health Plan (GHP) announced today it received a Navigator Cooperative Agreement Award from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to assist with health care navigation and enrollment in Genesee, Bay and Saginaw counties. GHP is one of 34 recipients nationwide and one of two organizations in Michigan to receive the grant.

“Enrolling in health care coverage can be a confusing process and at the Genesee Health Plan, we’re committed to making sure hardworking people, families and seniors know what their options are and helping them enroll in coverage that fits their needs,” said Jim Milanowski, GHP president and CEO. “The CMS grant will allow us to reach populations who face barriers to enrolling in health care coverage, including those who live in Bay and Saginaw counties who no longer have a health plan like GHP.”

The CMS grant will support GHP’s efforts to raise awareness of health care enrollment through the Federal Health Insurance Exchange – also known as HealthCare.gov (Obamacare) – and develop communications to reach populations with cultural or language barriers. It will also help GHP enroll underserved populations in health care including immigrants, people who are deaf or hard of hearing, employees of small businesses and small business owners, members of federally recognized tribes and returning citizens reentering the workforce. 

Education and community outreach is a key part of the project. Under this grant, GHP will launch “Get It, Know It, Use It, Keep It” – an educational campaign to help people enroll in health care coverage and educate people about what their health care coverage offers, how to use their health care coverage and receive preventive care, and how to keep their health care coverage. GHP will also leverage its community partnerships to reach more people throughout Genesee, Bay and Saginaw counties.

“Every American should have access to quality, affordable health care. I am proud to help secure this federal grant, which will allow Genesee Health Plan to help more people get health coverage and improve the overall health of our community. In Congress, I have introduced legislation, that has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives, to increase support for health care navigator programs. Today’s federal grant will further support local organizations helping to enroll people in affordable health care coverage,” said Congressman Dan Kildee.

The CMS Navigator Cooperative Agreement Award began in 2013 as an opportunity for organizations that serve as Navigators to help individuals understand their health insurance options and to assist with enrolling in health insurance through the Federal Health Insurance Exchange. The CMS grant supports the work of organizations that offer assistance to people searching, shopping for, and enrolling in health care coverage on the Federal Health Insurance Exchange. Open Enrollment is Nov. 1 through Dec. 15.

The one-year grant will provide GHP $92,988 to assist with outreach and education efforts during pre- and post-health care enrollment. CMS will fund 31% ($92,988) of total program costs and GHP will fund 69% ($206,352) of the project costs, totaling $299,340.

The project described is supported by Funding Opportunity Number CMS-NAV-19-001 from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

###

Disclaimer: The contents provided are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of HHS or any of its agencies.

Genesee Health Plan (GHP)is Genesee County’s plan for better health which began with the vision to have a community where each person has equal and affordable opportunity to live a healthy life. GHP is a nonprofit health care organization that was launched in 2001 to provide health care coverage and life-saving services to the uninsured residents of Genesee County. The plan has provided more than 90,000 county residents with doctor’s visits, cancer screenings, prescription drugs, x-rays and many more life-saving services since 2001. Learn more about GHP at geneseehealthplan.org or call 844.232.7740.