Equitas Health is requesting Year 3 funding from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for Cooperative Agreement to Support Navigators in Federally-Facilitated Exchanges. Equitas Health will directly deliver all project services and will not sub-award any grant funds to other entities. Equitas Health is requesting $276,159.00 in funding. Of this amount, $15,000 is a one-time award to facilitated outreach, engagement, and enrollment activities for individuals affected by the Medicaid/CHIP unwinding process. While Equitas Health will serve any Ohio resident who requests navigator assistance, the project is designed to reach individuals in these priority populations: historically-minoritized racial and ethnic groups, people in rural communities, members of LGBTQ+ communities, low income people, people who are homeless, people dealing with substance use disorders, people living with HIV, and Medicaid-eligible consumers.
The program will serve the following Ohio counties: Adams, Allen, Ashland, Athens, Auglaize, Belmont, Brown, Butler, Carroll, Champaign, Clark, Clinton, Columbiana, Coshocton, Crawford, Darke, Defiance, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Gallia, Greene, Guernsey, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Henry, Hocking, Huron, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lawrence, Licking, Logan, Lucas, Madison, Mahoning, Marion, Meigs, Mercer, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Ottawa, Paulding, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Portage, Preble, Putnam, Richland, Ross, Sandusky, Seneca, Scioto, Shelby, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Union, Van Wert, Vinton, Warren, Washington, Williams, Wood, and Wyandot.
Equitas Health will have 38 Navigators federally trained and certified/re-certified by October 1, 2023 in order to provide services throughout Open Enrollment which runs from November 1, 2023 to January 15, 2024. Total project (funded) staffing accounts for 4.0 FTE. Of these staff, there will be 10 full-time (26% of staff). In the period after Open Enrollment ends on January 15, 2024, Equitas Health will maintain the same staffing pattern. It will remain 10 of 38 Navigators (26% of staff) who account for the 4.0 FTE.
Equitas Health is a federally qualified health center Look-Alike that provides a medical home to people affected by or living with HIV, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and anyone seeking a welcoming healthcare home. Equitas Health provides primary care, dentistry, mental health and recovery services, housing supports, case management, HIV and STI prevention and treatment using a Patient-Centered Medical Home model.