Obama Administration Provides $150M for Health Insurance Enrollment Assistance

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a new funding program to assist the uninsured in securing health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

In a press release issued by this morning, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius noted that the roughly “$150 million will help community health centers provide in-person enrollment assistance to uninsured individuals across the nation.  About 1,200 health centers operate nearly 9,000 service delivery sites nationwide and serve approximately 21 million patients each year.”

According to the administration, the allocation of these funds will allow community-based health centers to hire new employees, better train existing staff, and further develop outreach and educational programs.

The new funding initiative “was issued by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and it complements and aligns with other federal efforts, such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service funded navigator program.”

“Health centers work in communities across the country, giving them a unique opportunity to reach the uninsured in their communities and help connect them with the benefits of health insurance coverage under the health care law,” said HRSA Administrator Mary Wakefield, Ph.D, R.N.

For information on applying for this funding opportunity, visit http://bphc.hrsa.gov/outreachandenrollment/

For a list of health centers eligible to apply for this funding visit http://www.hrsa.gov/about/news/2013tables/outreachandenrollment/