Grant Partners

Community Health Programs (CHP) will target outreach in nearby towns with over 100 uninsured residents, and attend community events to connect with the underserved, using its mobile van to reach those in geographically isolated locations. It will reduce churn by proactively communicating via phone and email that insurance is about to lapse, and provide instructions for seeking assistance. CHP will also create a Facebook page to explain common insurance terms, and post and translate sample letters from MassHealth.

Friends of Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly (JCHE) provides supportive, affordable, independent senior housing in Massachusetts, and owns 1,200 apartments that are home to 1,500 low-income older adults in Brighton, Newton, and Framingham.  In collaboration with the LeadingAge Center for Applied Research, JCHE will seek to demonstrate the effectiveness of affordable housing on the quality of life for the organization's seniors, as well as an impact on costs to the government and health care system.  It will include metro Boston seniors who are low- and moderate-income with similar demographics (income, age, ethnicity, risk profile) living in subsidized housing and receiving supportive services.  The provision of housing will be studied as an intervention at three levels, using Medicaid and Medicare utilization data:  1) housing without services, 2) housing with resident service coordination only, and 3) housing with significant service enrichment. 

Massachusetts Law Reform Institute’s (MLRI) health care work targets vulnerable populations who face unusual challenges in obtaining and maintaining health insurance coverage and care. MLRI will provide legal advocacy focused on policy and regulation issues in the Commonwealth in defense of low-income and vulnerable populations. One key issue is retaining coverage for those affected by redetermination through detailed critiques and analyses to identify standards and practices that are not in compliance with applicable law.

South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) provides housing and supportive services to disadvantaged, homeless, single adults in three regions of the state:  MetroWest/Framingham, Central Mass/Worcester, and the Merrimack Valley/Lowell.  SMOC will evaluate the impact of its Housing First program that recognizes an immediate and primary focus on helping clients access and sustain permanent housing, to test the hypothesis that stable housing leads to improved health outcomes, and ultimately, a reduction in health costs.  Three hundred clients will be placed into housing and evaluated as part of this project.  SMOC will identify those clients with the highest service needs at entry into shelter, and then follow them into and throughout their housing placement in order to measure their health outcomes at various points along the continuum of homelessness and housing.

Harbor Health Services will participate in off-site joint outreach sessions at social service agencies, supermarket chains, ethnic markets, Councils on Aging, Veterans Agencies, sites serving behavioral health and developmental delayed persons, subsidized housing, state employment and job training sites, schools, food pantries, WIC program sites, health fairs, and via social media. It will create a health insurance literacy community assessment, and develop user-friendly materials that educate clients on how to use health insurance benefits. Finally, it will dedicate a phone number and webpage for residents to reach staff for enrollment assistance, and execute a social media campaign.

Family Health Center of Worcester (FHCW) will partner with community organizations to receive referrals for individuals needing enrollment assistance. They will provide one-on-one sessions and events about minimizing the risk of losing coverage, review all eligibility determination letters, utilize its EMR to record pending expiration dates, and use automated call center software to reach uninsured patients in multiple languages. The organization will conduct quarterly “health insurance 101” trainings, provide regular patient orientation sessions, and make health insurance literacy information and resources available through patient computer kiosks.

The Massachusetts Senior Action Council (MSAC) will address key public policy and community issues affecting the health and well-being for the 65 and over population, empowering its members to use their own voices to address key public policy and community issues. Advocacy will focus on the growing disparity in out-of-pocket costs and affordability. MSAC will coordinate the “Bridge the Gap” campaign, which focuses on health care affordability for seniors.

Community Health Center of Franklin County will provide a continuum of eligibility, enrollment and review services, resource referrals to primary care, and case management.  They will educate consumers on how to navigate health coverage and care systems through computer access, including the Health Information Exchange.  Educational materials will be developed for patients to take a more active role in their health coverage and care.  

Fishing Partnership Health Plan will educate households on the Affordable Care Act, targeting “family health brokers” and community leaders to be navigators in providing frontline education and enrollment assistance.  Seminars and trainings will be offered at shore side processing plants, industry meetings, occupational safety training seminars, and settlement houses, complete with a training curriculum for all navigators.  The “Do You Love a Fisherman?” campaign will be launched with marketing materials, services, and incentives targeting spouses and family members.  

Ecu-Health Care will continue its education and marketing campaign, and provide enrollment and renewal assistance on public health insurance programs.  They will train and educate applicants on navigating the health care system. 

Greater Boston Interfaith Organization will continue its strategic advocacy agenda focused on health care cost containment, monitoring Chapter 224 implementation, and mobilizing its membership in developing a “train-the-trainer” model.  The organization will develop articulated policy positions and principles in holding public and private stakeholders accountable for results, while negotiating with key stakeholders around consumer interests in mitigating rising health care costs.

The League will continue monitoring changes in the health care environment, sharing information with health centers, coalition partners, and state entities.  The organization will engage community health center board members to foster active advocacy and policy work to advance adult dental coverage, grow health center pharmacy programs, support the certification of community health workers, and improve health care for homeless people, veterans, and individuals recently released from correctional institutions.

Lynn Community Health Center will provide enrollment assistance and conduct monthly outreach activities at local health fairs and cultural events.  They will collaborate with health and human service providers to provide off-site outreach and enrollment services.  Monthly education sessions will be conducted on health coverage options using a Patient Navigation Guide.  

Community Action of the Franklin, Hampshire and North Quabbin Regions will assist eligible consumers with applications, offer education about health access services over the phone, and provide financial assistance assessments.  Referral linkages with area providers will also be enhanced.  

Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA) will focus on community health integration and improving the built environment. MPHA will work with the Alliance for Community Health Integration to ensure that social determinants of health are adequately addressed, in particular through community investments, support for ACOs from MassHealth, and health care institutions’ internal policies.