Indian Health Council, Inc., a consortium of nine federally recognized tribes located in north San Diego County, will offer a 3-year “Connecting to Coverage” program that will accomplish these objectives:
1) Enroll 100 AI/AN children/youth and 50 adults (parents/caregivers) annually over the 3-year project that are identified as uninsured and eligible for Medi-Cal, CHIP or a private plan offered through Covered California.
2) Retain enrollment of eligible AI/AN clients currently receiving health insurance through Medi-Cal, CHIP or a private affordable health insurance plan provided through Covered California. The target annual numbers for retention are 200 children (age 0-17) and 100 adults (age 18-40).
Outreach and enrollment strategies to accomplish the objectives include:
1) Partner with schools primarily serving AI/AN students for outreach and enrollment assistance to parents and caregivers in families eligible for Medi-Cal, Covered California or CHIP health insurance plans.
2) Engage community partners, distribute information and generate referrals to Eligibility Case Managers (ECMs) through outreach at consortium Tribes, Tribal TANF, Palomar & Children’s hospitals, and community based cultural and health events.
3) Integrate health coverage in-reach and outreach enrollment and retention into the existing medical, dental and behavioral health programs offered by IHC through its main and satellite clinics.
The “Connecting to Coverage” program will build upon IHC’s success and experience as a previous CMS grantee. IHC active clinical user data indicates that approximately 2,126 or 36% of patients are uninsured. Currently, registered clients enrolled in Medi-Cal total 1,212. The goal of the “Connecting to Coverage” project is to increase the total number of Medi-Cal enrolled clients who have been identified as having no type of coverage.
IHC will utilize best practices in conducting project activities, which will include information and re-enrollment reminder notices delivered to clients by phone, mail, social media, and through a recently introduced patient portal linked to individual health care accounts. Data sharing and regional coordination for uninsured AI/AN children involved in Child Welfare Services will be maintained with the County of San Diego Health & Human Services Agency.
IHC will apply Connecting Kids to Coverage 3 year grant funding project amount of $750,000 to support project staff (salaries/fringe), client incentives, local travel, office supplies and furniture to provide a dedicated enrollment consultation/processing space, and indirect/general and administrative expenses, and to adapt, print and deliver outreach information materials.
