Advanced Patient Advocacy Serving Communities in Need As Part of Federal Navigator Grant

Richmond, VA (PRWEB) July 28, 2015

Advanced Patient Advocacy, LLC (APA) announced today that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released county-level data on healthcare enrollment during the second healthcare open enrollment period (1), and APA continues to demonstrate outstanding results in servicing populations of need with ACA enrollment assistance. In conjunction with the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, APA was selected by CMS to provide free assistance in selecting a healthcare plan through trained Navigators to the uninsured and underinsured citizens of Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The demographic breakdown confirms that APA is providing assistance to individuals located in areas of high need. In the Missouri counties served by APA's Navigator initiative, 47% of those who enrolled in healthcare coverage are Caucasian. Statewide, 78% of the remaining uninsured are white. The next largest demographic to enroll in coverage, at 13% in the counties reached by APA, are African American. Across Missouri, 12% of the remaining uninsured are African American. APA Navigators partner with libraries, community services organizations, churches, and others to provide Missouri residents access to information and resources to help them enroll in and use healthcare benefits.

Data assimilated from West Virginia demonstrated that 93% of those to enroll during the recent open enrollment period in counties touched by APA were adults 18-64, while the same percentage of West Virginia residents still without coverage fall within that age group. APA has been successful at assisting residents of rural communities across West Virginia by working closely with a variety of community partners to reduce barriers to healthcare enrollment such as transportation.

In each of its service areas, APA's Navigators participate in educational outreach events at libraries, hospitals, community centers, churches, convention centers, college campuses, festivals, and elsewhere. Using an educational curriculum modeled on the federal government's "Coverage to Care" initiative, APA partners with local government entities, community organizations, small businesses, and others to inform the public about how the health insurance system works and how to use their coverage. Additionally, although the third open enrollment period doesn't begin until November 1st, Navigators are still available to assist any individuals who qualify for a Special Enrollment Period due to a change in their life circumstances, such as a birth, marriage, divorce, move, or new job.

Advanced Patient Advocacy, LLC, is a privately-owned company that provides a comprehensive suite of enrollment services to assist consumers in navigating and connecting to payer solutions, which include Medicaid, Workers Compensation, Motor Vehicle, Disability, General Liability, and
State/Federal Healthcare Marketplaces.

For more information about any of these events or the Navigator program, visit http://www.EnrollAPA.com or email Amy Wight at awight(at)apallc(dot)com. You can also find us on Facebook.

(1) CMS released the number of QHP (Qualified Health Plan) selections by county for the 37 states participating in the Federally-facilitated Marketplace or who have State Partnership Marketplaces or supported State-based Marketplaces for the open enrollment period that ran from November 15, 2014, through February 15, 2015, including additional Special Enrollment Period activity reported through February 22, 2015. http://goo.gl/7AsqwM

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