First Choice Services will provide high quality health insurance Navigation services throughout the states of West Virginia and Iowa both in person and virtually via a live telephone/video helpline. - Organization Name: First Choice Services Organization type: Community and consumer-focused nonprofit. Annual funding amounts for each 12-month budget period Years 1-5: $2.5M Name of the FFE state(s): West Virginia and Iowa (Operating Statewide in both states) Proposed priority populations to be served: Racial and ethnic minorities, rural communities, LGBTQ+ individuals, low-income or unhoused individuals, American Indian individuals, people with physical or intellectual disabilities, individuals with cognitive, hearing, speech, and/or vision impairments, pregnant women, new mothers, and women with children, individuals with mental health or substance-related disorders, individuals with HIV/AIDS & Medicaid-eligible consumers who are not enrolled in coverage despite being eligible for Medicaid. Other priority populations will be identified as appropriate throughout the 5-years. Total number of Navigator staff your organization will have federally trained and certified or re-certified for PY 2025 by October 1, 2024: 30 Project Purpose: To leverage First Choice’s expertise in running social service helplines and community partnership building to provide high quality Navigation services throughout the states of West Virginia and Iowa both in person and virtually via a telephone/video helpline. Summary of Proposed Project: First Choice Services will hire a Project Director, Project Coordinator, Iowa Outreach Coordinator/Team Lead, West Virginia Outreach Coordinator, Training/Quality Assurance Coordinator, 11 Iowa Navigators, 11 West Virginia Navigators & 3 Bilingual (Spanish/English) Navigators to (1) Provide comprehensive in-person and phone/virtual Navigation services to all residents of West Virginia and Iowa; (2) Conduct statewide outreach to all residents with a focus on priority populations and community relationship building; (3) Maintain strong partnerships with organizations serving individuals impacted by substance use and mental health disorders, HIV/AIDS, homelessness, poverty and rurality; (4) Build partnerships with statewide entities serving those in need of Navigation services & (6) Refer consumers to needed social services to reduce health barriers. First Choice along with all Navigators will adhere to the ACA conflict of interest policies. Outcomes: Throughout the 5-year cooperative agreement, First Choice Services will (1) Employ 30 Federally Trained and Certified Navigators; (2) Provide 11,000 1:1 interactions between Navigators and consumers; (3) Assist 2,600 consumers with enrollment or re-enrollment in a QHP; (4) Assist 3,000 consumers with Medicaid/CHIP applications or referrals; (5) Assist 7,625 consumers with understanding the basic concepts and rights related to health coverage and how to use health coverage; (6) Assist 700 consumers with complex cases, other Exchange (Marketplace) enrollment issues, or referrals; (7) Assist 175 consumers with with Marketplace forms, exemptions, and appeals & (8) Analyze outcome and service data by priority populations to ensure equal access, service provision & outcomes.
