Connecting Kids to Care (CK2C) AI/AN 2023 - Indian Health Council, Inc., a consortium of nine federally recognized tribes located in north San Diego County, will offer a 3-year “Connecting Kids to Coverage” program that will accomplish these objectives: 1) Enroll 100 AI/AN children/youth, 50 parents/caregivers, and 50 pregnant women 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 100 children (age 0-17), 100 parents/caregivers (age 18 and over), and 50 pregnant women. Outreach and enrollment strategies to accomplish the objectives include: 1) Target and partner with schools primarily serving AI/AN students for outreach and enrollment assistance to parents/caregivers in families, and pregnant women eligible for Medi-Cal, Covered California or CHIP health insurance plans. 2) Incorporate year- round enrollment and outreach strategies that target AI/AN community organizations and public organizations that are serving our AI/AN populations. Expand our efforts (in person and virtually) in reaching AI/AN persons that may not be accessing services through the clinic. 3) Implement a multimedia campaign to inform AI/AN individuals of the importance of retaining Medicaid and CHIP along with staff calendar reminders alerts on renewal appointments. The “Connecting Kids to Coverage” program will build upon IHC’s success and experience as a previous CMS grantee. IHC active clinical user data indicates that approximately 1,599 or 30% of patients are uninsured. Currently, registered clients enrolled in Medi-Cal total 1,435. The goal of the “Connecting Kids 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 new 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 $1,000,000 to support project staff (salaries/fringe), travel, cellular phones, printing/publications, client incentives, outreach display items, outreach incentives and indirect/general and administrative expenses.
