Keep the promise of health care reform

Please call your legislators as soon as you can and tell them how important outreach and enrollment work is to the success of health care reform. Line item 4000-0352 - which funds outreach and enrollment, and Community Partners - is in jeopardy.

The state made promises under Health Care Reform, and outreach and enrollment workers keep those promises:

• Access to health insurance: The Office of Medicaid annually redetermines every resident’s eligibility for the 152 variations of public health insurance. Skilled outreach workers assist residents in navigating the complex redetermination process, and help guarantee that this coverage is the most appropriate to maximize the individual’s health benefits and the state’s financial reimbursement.
• Access to a doctor: Outreach workers help the almost 170,000 Commonwealth Care enrollees make critical decisions about their health insurance plans. Without their continued guidance, the gains of health reform will be lost as individuals are terminated from programs and lose access to primary and preventive care. Outreach workers are helping to change the way in which individuals access the health care system, reducing costs and improving efficiency.
• Quality, affordable care: Outreach and enrollment workers assist individuals above 300% fpl, especially with Commonwealth Choice enrollment and coverage maintenance. In addition to the individual mandate, individuals above 300% fpl will need to learn about Minimum Creditable Coverage, which goes into effect January 1, 2009. As Massachusetts residents are required to buy specific types of insurance, outreach workers provide the support and education individuals need to understand the new rules and take appropriate action.

This week, the federal government passed the Massachusetts 1115 waiver. This means the federal government believes in the Massachusetts plan, and is willing to pay for it: the federal government will reimburse the state 50% of the money spent on MassHealth Outreach and Enrollment grants.

• To find your legislators, visit WhereDoIVoteMA.com. Once you call, please let us know by emailing access@compartners.org.

Thank you to Suzanne Curry and the ACT!! Coalition for all their hard work and the excellent fact sheet (PDF) on this issue.