Insurance navigator grant recipient says cuts force groups to cease services in Ohio
The
The cuts prevent organizations from equitably providing services to all Ohioans, she said. The food bank association has in previous years distributed funds to nine nonprofits throughout the state that administer navigator services locally. Shuttering the program will eliminate 54 full-time positions statewide, she said.
This is the fifth year for the navigator program, which was created by the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare. Navigators provide services during insurance enrollment, including determining what plans -- either on the marketplace exchange or through Medicaid -- clients qualify for and helping them enroll.
After enrollment, navigators can help with billing questions or finding a physician. The grants pay for staffing, travel for enrollment events, education sessions, and outreach materials.
Local effects
Navigator services in northwest
It is detrimental to consumers looking for help when signing up for health insurance, she said.
"It's a significant loss,"
The northwest
Waiting for answers
Awardees were then notified CMS was withholding funds until groups re-applied and explained how they would use the smaller allocation. CMS has 30 days to reconsider applications.
Even if funds were released, Ms. Hamler-Fugitt said, it would be days before the
"Unfortunately we see no viable path forward," she said of ceasing the program.
During a call with grantees and federal officals on Wednesday, Ms. Hamler-Fugitt said "it became crystal clear that there are two sets of grantees in the eyes of CMS," those who saw major cuts and those that didn't.
Ms. Hamler-Fugitt has said
When determining funding amounts this year, CMS officials told grant recipients during the Wednesday call that they focused on enrollments in qualified health plans on the exchanges. It disregarded measures such as enrollments in Medicaid or the
Because of
"It does appear that
CMS also denied Ms. Hamler-Fugitt's request to concentrate the reduced funding for use during open enrollment and was told it must be spread out over the 12-month grant period. The open enrollment period was reduced to six weeks rather than three months as in previous years. Enrollment runs
Sen.
"Ripping the rug out from these programs and then requiring additional work on a shoestring budget during their preparation for the most important time of the year is inexcusable and appears to be little more than conscious sabotage," the letter states. "Playing games with the stability of the [Affordable Care Act] will drive down enrollment and lead to higher health coverage costs, while causing additional job loss along the way."
CMS officials did not respond to questions from The Blade on Friday about how funding allocations were decided and if any navigator programs in other states have withdrawn. Ms. Hamler-Fugitt said federal officials did not answer if another nonprofit could apply and pick up navigator services in
To find alternate enrollment assistance, visit localhelp.healthcare.gov, or call 1-800-318-2596.
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