Proposed budget amendment could protect outreach

A budget amendment filed by Rep. Steve Kulik with co-sponsors seeks to integrate “outreach and enrollment” as a regular function within EOHHS and reduce the likelihood that funding gaps will occur annually. This amendment acknowledges for the first time that “outreach and enrollment” activities support ALL public health coverage programs, and addresses the need for follow-up to keep people enrolled in coverage. This ground-breaking language is strongly supported by Community Partners and promoted by the ACT! Coalition.

Specifically, the amendment (to line item 4000-0352) will:

• Broaden the focus to include both education on how to use health insurance and “coverage maintenance” – follow-up to keep people enrolled despite annual re-determinations and changes in life circumstances.
• Expand the scope of community outreach/enrollment grants to include all publicly administered and/or subsidized health coverage or safety net programs.
• Expand the definition of the population served by “outreach” funding to include not only the uninsured, but also the insured who need to maintain coverage in the broader range of publicly supported programs.
• Mandate the Health Care Reform Outreach and Education Unit created in FY08 to coordinate activities across agencies.

Click here for the ACT! Coalition summary and the amendment language. (PDF). The budget line item is 4000-0352.

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