Expanding Health Care Coverage

Grantee Name

The Empire Justice Center

Funding Area

Expanding Health Care Coverage

Publication Date

August 2012

Grant Amount

$128,739

Grant Date:

December 1, 2010 – December 2, 2011

DOWNLOAD FULL REPORT

The successful implementation of Federal health reform will rely on educating consumers about their insurance options, getting and keeping them enrolled, and helping them use coverage.

To that end, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandated the establishment of two programs: Consumer Assistance Programs (CAPs) and Navigator Programs (Navigators). New York already has several programs that perform some of the functions required of CAPs and Navigators. Sorting out the similarities and differences between the Federal programs, integrating them with existing consumer-oriented initiatives in the State, and administering the programs to provide maximum benefit for consumers are critical to ensuring successful implementation of the ACA in New York.

The New York Health Foundation (NYHealth) funded the Empire Justice Center to address these issues in partnership with the Community Service Society of New York (CSS).

Outcomes and Lessons Learned

  • Collaborated with CSS and eight consumer organizations, and held regional meetings with stakeholders to solicit their recommendations on an implementation framework.
  • Published its findings and recommendations in a September 2011 report, “Connecting Consumers to Coverage: The Role of Navigators and Consumer Assistance Programs in Implementing Health Reform in New York.”
  • Circulated the report through the Federal Health Care Reform for New York State and National Academy for State Health Policy websites, and other national venues.
  • Received a request from the State to consult on the Small Business Health Options Program Exchange.

Read the report associated with this grant, “Connecting Consumers to Coverage: The Role of Navigators and Consumer Assistance Programs in Implementing Health Reform in New York”.