Saturday, November 23, 2024
11/23/2024
For the HHS/CMS Cooperative Agreement to Support Navigators in Federally-facilitated Exchanges, Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Inc. (LASO) proposes to provide healthcare coverage assistance to Oklahomans. Partners are: Latino Community Development Center, RAIN Oklahoma, TulsaCares, TulsaResponds and several Community Health Centers. Requested funding for the FFE state of Oklahoma is $3,008,754.00 for the third 12-month budget period (August 27, 2023 to August 26, 2024). This project has been designed to meet Oklahoma-specific needs and align well with service to the underserved and vulnerable populations in the state. There will be a special focus on hourly workers, independent contractors, the self-employed, those who work at small, rural businesses and others who do not have access to employer-sponsored health plans. Oklahoma has an uninsured rate of 16.3 % among the non-elderly population, according to 2021 estimates prepared by Kaiser Family Foundation based on US Census data. There will be assistance statewide. All 77 counties in Oklahoma are to be served: Adair, Alfalfa, Atoka, Beaver, Beckham, Blaine, Bryan, Caddo, Canadian, Carter, Cherokee, Choctaw, Cimarron, Cleveland, Coal, Comanche, Cotton, Craig, Creek, Custer, Delaware, Dewey, Ellis, Garfield, Garvin, Grady, Grant, Greer, Harmon, Harper, Haskell, Hughes, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnston, Kay, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Latimer, LeFlore, Lincoln, Logan, Love, McClain, McCurtain, McIntosh, Major, Marshall, Mayes, Murray, Muskogee, Noble, Nowata, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Payne, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Pushmataha, Roger Mills, Rogers, Seminole, Sequoyah, Stephens, Texas, Tillman, Tulsa, Wagoner, Washington, Washita, Woods, Woodward. By October 1, 2023, LASO will have 40 federally trained and certified Navigators for the OE period through January 15, 2024. There will 4 full-time, and 36 part-time Navigators. The numbers are the same for the post-OE period of January 16, 2024 to the end of the budget period on August 26, 2024. There are zero volunteer or unpaid Navigators. This cooperative agreement will be used to perform Navigator functions from a network of 16 existing LASO offices, whose service area covers all 77 counties in Oklahoma. There will also be Navigators embedded in agencies serving special populations, such as Latinos/Hispanics and persons identifying as 2S-LGBTQ+. Other Navigators will be at health facilities, such as Community Health Centers (FQHCs) and hospitals, most of which serve rural communities. There will be a new initiative to place Navigators at faith-based organizations, such as church centers that encourage mental health or substance abuse treatment. LASO also serves many Tribal Nation members and has been selected by CMS to provide additional Marketplace training on Tribal plans and applications. Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Inc. has been involved in the Navigator program for nine years, and has been the statewide grantee for three years. It has 501c3 status with the IRS, and experienced staff to administer this cooperative agreement.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
