REP. MIKE THOMPSON ANNOUNCES $548,897 FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS TO HELP UNINSURED GAIN AFFORDABLE HEALTH COVERAGE
July 12, 2013
Funds to Help Enroll Uninsured in New, Affordable Health Insurance Options Made Available Through the Affordable Care Act
U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) today announced four grant awards totaling $548,897 to help community health centers enroll the uninsured in new health insurance options made available by the Affordable Care Act. With this award, the health centers will help consumers understand their coverage options in California's new Health Insurance Marketplace - Covered California. The awards will also allow the health centers to help people determine their eligibility for Medi-Cal, the Children's Health Insurance Program, as well as other forms of financial assistance.
“The Affordable Care Act is providing people in our district with access to affordable health insurance,” said Thompson. “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.”
Clinic Ole in Napa was awarded a $126,364 grant. Santa Roswa Community Health Centers was awarded a $224,055 grant. Sonoma Valley Community Health Center was awarded an $86,678 grant. Contra Costa County Health Center in Martinez was awarded an $111,811grant.
With these funds:
- Clinic Ole 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.
- Contra Costa County Health Center expects to hire two additional workers, who will assist local residents with enrollment into affordable health insurance coverage.
- Sonoma Valley Community Health Center will hire two full time employees who will assist local residents with enrollment into affordable health insurance coverage.
- Santa Rosa Community Health Center will hire four new employees, and will train five current employees to conduct outreach and assist residents with enrollment into the new, affordable health insurance options.
In California, 129 health centers operating 1,221 sites served 3,261,720 patients last year, 42 percent of whom were uninsured.
Today's announcement is part of a larger effort to make applying for health coverage as easy as possible. The new, consumer-focused HealthCare.gov website and the 24-hour-a-day consumer call center (1-800-318-2596) are available to help people in California's 5th District prepare for open enrollment and ultimately sign up for health coverage.
These new tools will help residents understand their coverage options and select the plan that best suits their needs when open enrollment in the new Health Insurance Marketplace, Covered California, begins on October 1, 2013.
The awards were issued by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
“The Affordable Care Act is providing people in our district with access to affordable health insurance,” said Thompson. “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.”
Clinic Ole in Napa was awarded a $126,364 grant. Santa Roswa Community Health Centers was awarded a $224,055 grant. Sonoma Valley Community Health Center was awarded an $86,678 grant. Contra Costa County Health Center in Martinez was awarded an $111,811grant.
With these funds:
- Clinic Ole 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.
- Contra Costa County Health Center expects to hire two additional workers, who will assist local residents with enrollment into affordable health insurance coverage.
- Sonoma Valley Community Health Center will hire two full time employees who will assist local residents with enrollment into affordable health insurance coverage.
- Santa Rosa Community Health Center will hire four new employees, and will train five current employees to conduct outreach and assist residents with enrollment into the new, affordable health insurance options.
In California, 129 health centers operating 1,221 sites served 3,261,720 patients last year, 42 percent of whom were uninsured.
Today's announcement is part of a larger effort to make applying for health coverage as easy as possible. The new, consumer-focused HealthCare.gov website and the 24-hour-a-day consumer call center (1-800-318-2596) are available to help people in California's 5th District prepare for open enrollment and ultimately sign up for health coverage.
These new tools will help residents understand their coverage options and select the plan that best suits their needs when open enrollment in the new Health Insurance Marketplace, Covered California, begins on October 1, 2013.
The awards were issued by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and chairs the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.
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Issues:Health Care