St. Helena Star - Clinic Ole receives federal health care grant

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson recently announced a $126,364 grant award to help Clinic Ole in Napa enroll the uninsured in new health insurance options made available by the Affordable Care Act.

With the grant, Clinic Ole will help consumers understand coverage options in California's new Health Insurance Marketplace â€" Covered California. The grant will also allow the health center to help people determine their eligibility for Medi-Cal, the Children's Health Insurance Program and other forms of financial assistance.

“The Affordable Care Act is providing people in our district with access to affordable health insurance,” Thompson said. “This award will help people identify options for coverage and enroll in an affordable insurance plan that suits their needs.

“Not only is this good for those looking for affordable health insurance options, it's also good for health care costs overall. Right now, our clinics and hospitals are providing millions of dollars of uncompensated care and that cost is ultimately passed on to consumers in the form of higher premiums. Covering the uninsured will drive down health care costs for everyone.”

In California, 129 health centers operating 1,221 sites served 3.26 million patients last year, 42 percent of whom were uninsured. With these funds, the health center expects to expand one current part-time position to full-time and hire one additional worker who will assist local residents with enrollment into affordable health insurance coverage.