Cooperative Agreement to Support Navigators in Federally-facilitated Exchanges - THC Pathway To Coverage Navigator Program - The Bexar County Community Health Collaborative (BCCHC) implemented The Health Collaborative Pathway to Coverage (THC-PC) navigator and as of May 2022, just 9 months into year 1, we have sponsored and conducted 1,384 public outreach, enrollment, and education events, including collaboration with more than 400 partners. We have reached 1,168,735 through marketing and promotion activities; provided over 40,000 consumers with 1:1 navigator assistance, assisted 1,120 consumers with QHP enrollment or re-enrollment, assisted 607 consumers with Medicaid/CHIP applications/referrals, and offered other types of assistance to 6,241 consumers. We also have supported a staff of 18 full-time Navigators. For year 2, the program will continue to serve residents in the San Antonio area, home to an estimated 2,028,236 persons, and the surrounding counties. Specifically, the following five counties are served: Atascosa, Bexar, Dewitt, Karnes, and Wilson with the request to add Uvalde County as one more of the areas served for a total of 6 counties. Approximately 420,018 residents of the region are uninsured, and more than two thirds of residents are low-income. The population of the region, particularly the low-income and uninsured population, is predominantly Hispanic/Latino, with many residents speaking Spanish and/or having limited English proficiency. The population includes approximately 308,000 persons in the services areas with incomes between 138% and 399% of the FPL. Additionally, the program targets uninsured children, pregnant women, mothers, and young adults. BCCHC requests $1,845,051 in year two of the project period to serve the following 6 counties in the State of Texas; Atascosa Bexar DeWitt Karnes Uvalde Wilson In Year 2, BCCHC will continue to deploy our successful out-stationed Navigator model used to provide all navigator statutory programs including conducting public education activities to raise awareness about the exchange; facilitating selection of a QHP; providing information in a manner that is culturally and linguistically appropriate to the needs of the populations served by the exchange, including individuals with limited English proficiency, and ensuring accessibility and usability of navigator tools and functions for individuals with disabilities; providing referrals to any applicable office of health insurance consumer assistance or health insurance ombudsman established under section 2793 of the public health services act, or any other appropriate state agency or agencies, for any enrollee with a grievance, complaint, or question regarding their health plan, coverage, or a determination under plan or coverage; complying with applicable training and conflict of interest standards; obtaining the authorization of applicants for coverage available through an exchange application prior to accessing their personally identifiable information and providing targeted assistance to serve underserved or vulnerable. The program will continue collaborating with local health departments, including COVID education, vaccination and testing events; providing over the phone assistance; creating and developing an increased social media presence; reach through TV and radio; phone banks; and being present at local centers, hospitals, clinics, and events. We will also continue our referral process from internal programs such as our Grow Healthy Together Pathways Community HUB and Covid health educators. In addition, BCCHC will be prepared to modify our model to account for the expected increase in inquiries and QHP enrollment due to the loss of Medicaid coverage for Texans as a result of the end of the Public Health Emergency- Medicaid Unwinding, to help ensure there are few gaps in health care coverage for those in our 6 counties.
