North Dakota Navigators: Cooperative Agreement to Support Navigators in Federally-facilitated Exchanges CFDA 93.332 Funding Opportunity CMS-Nav-24-001 - North Dakota has been described as a small town with long streets. As the 19th largest state by geography, ND citizens are dispersed at 11.3 persons per square mile, ranking 47th in population density. ND’s estimated 2023 population was 783,926. North Dakotans know their neighbors whether next door or across the state. When it comes to health care and insurance, North Dakotans want to trust the message and the messenger. The North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities (NDCPD) at Minot State University (MSU) is a University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and has established a collaborative network of Navigators that have the trust of their neighbors. Navigators will work in six regions of the state, within tribal communities, and at community health centers. NCDPD will continue to partner with Fargo Family Health Clinic and provide Navigator services to targeted populations in that community. The Navigators coordinate training, disseminate educational materials, and monitor the unbiased implementation of the Affordable Care Act by assisting all eligible North Dakotans in choosing an appropriate health care plan that best fits their needs. NDCPD seeks to continue providing Navigator support to people who are uninsured or underinsured. NDCPD will target priority populations in North Dakota including: rural communities; individuals with mental health or substance-related disorders; low income or unhoused individuals; American Indians/Alaska Natives; racial and ethnic minorities; lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer, and other LGBTQ+ individuals; people with physical or intellectual disabilities; individuals with cognitive, hearing, speech, and/or vision impairments; Medicaid-eligible consumers who are not enrolled in coverage despite being eligible for Medicaid; pregnant women, new mothers, and people with children; and individuals with HIV/AIDS. NDCPD has a 33-year history and is in an ideal position and has the capacity to continue the Navigator project. The center excels in the dissemination of information and the development of service-oriented partnerships and networks. For the past 18 years, the center has received funding for Senior Medicare Patrol to assist elderly citizens statewide with reviewing healthcare billing and Medicare payments. Another statewide project is Money Follows the Person which helps people who are elderly or disabled access decent, safe, and affordable housing. In addition, NDCPD was awarded and successfully carried out the Cooperative Agreement to Support Navigators in Federally-Facilitated Exchanges from 2013 through 2018 and, most recently, from 2021 to 2024. Under the umbrella of Minot State University, an institution of higher education, NDCPD is requesting $1,250,000 for each project year from 2024 through 2029 for a total of $6,250,000 over the five years. The goal is to improve access to healthcare coverage for priority populations by having a minimum of twelve federally trained and certified/re-certified Navigators by October 1, 2024, who will facilitate enrollment in Qualified Health Plans and provide ongoing education and post-enrollment support.
