Swope Health is assisting Missourians enroll in the newly expanded Medicaid program with the help of local and national funding. The Community Health Center received a total of $15,000 from the Health Forward Foundation and $177,085 from CMSCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Helping Missourians Enroll Starting Oct. 1, the state of Missouri expanded Medicaid coverage to approximately 275,000 more people and Swope Health is offering free assistance to anyone interested in applying for benefits.
Swope Health estimates that nearly 10,000 current patients may be eligible for MO Healthnet expanded coverage. Swope Health is now offering enrollment assistance to the community. Anyone interested in learning more about enrolling in Medicaid or other health coverage can call Swope Health’s team of navigators at 816-599-5653 or 816-599-5654.
Under the expanded program, an individual making $18,000 a year or less will receive healthcare coverage. A family of four is eligible if income is $36,000 a year or less. The new program also expands the coverage to non-disabled adults without children, who were previously excluded from applying for Medicaid.
The community center is providing the free assistance thanks to two grants. The Health Forward Foundation has awarded Swope Health $15,000 to provide education and enrollment resources to the community. This grant is part of the Health Forward Foundation’s collaborative work with local nonprofit organizations to increase health coverage education and enrollment.
The $177,085 grant from CMS will also support healthcare enrollment by allowing the health center to hire navigators to conduct outreach and help individuals enroll. Swope Health is the only federally qualified center in Missouri to receive this grant.
Additionally, the funding will support enrolling area residents in health coverage through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
As an identified “Navigator” organization, Swope Health has specially trained staff to walk people through the often-confusing process of signing up for federally funded health coverage.
“We’re thankful to receive these grants because they will provide Swope Health assistance to continue our mission of improving the health and wellness of our community,” said Jeron Ravin, JD, Swope Health President and CEO. “Our team plays a critical role breaking down barriers to healthcare access and with this funding, we can provide even more assistance to those who need health coverage which is a necessary step to gaining health services.”