Grant Partners

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.

Dukes County will participate in community outreach events, and use paid and unpaid advertising and social media to promote affordable insurance information. They will develop a folder with handouts for appointments, and adapt a checklist for account set-up, enrollment and payment information, primary care provider selection, and making appointments. It will also set up reminder systems for clients with pending action steps. 

Project Directors: Thomas Byrne, PhD, Principal Investigator and Daniel Miller, PhD, Co-Investigator“A Data-Based Redesign of Health Care and Housing for People who Experience Chronic Homelessness” is a two year project that will assess the potential return on investment associated with several different housing intervention models for persons age 55 and above experiencing chronic homelessness. The research team plans to: describe the health care utilization patterns among Massachusetts residents over the age of 55 who are enrolled in Medicaid and experience chronic homelessness and compare those patterns to two other comparison groups, including a similar cohort who experiences homelessness on a temporary basis and a cohort who have not experienced homelessness; project health care costs over the next ten years associated with Massachusetts residents over the age of 55 who are chronically homeless and enrolled in Medicaid in the absence of a housing intervention; and analyze if/to what extent implementation of several different housing models targeted to chronically homeless adults aged 55 and older would lead to reductions in health care costs. Where applicable, the researchers will also estimate the potential return on investment associated with large-scale implementation of the housing models considered. This project will focus on Massachusetts but is expected to be part of a multi-state project involving other independent studies in California, New York, and Washington (pending funding for projects in each of these states), which share similar research objectives.

Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee (CEOC) will plan outreach and enrollment activities at community locations. It will use an extensive follow-up system to address churn, ensuring that individuals have obtained the benefit they applied for and that all documents have been submitted.  It will conduct financial education and coaching to help ensure individuals can maintain their payments and minimize the risk of churn, and conduct educational coaching on health insurance literacy.

Community Action of the Franklin, Hampshire, and North Quabbin Regions will conduct outreach through four community coalitions, food pantries, and career centers.  They will screen all callers for health insurance needs and send reminders about member responsibilities to submit documentation and update information.  At enrollment meetings, Community Action will provide materials to help members stay organized and follow-up to see if they have a PCP, can access their Connector account, and have responded to any mailings. 

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.

Massachusetts Senior Action Council will advocate for health care access for the over 65 population.  It will advocate for its constituents around growing out-of-pocket costs and affordability, expanding access to community-based long-term care by eliminating disparities in eligibility for personal care attendant services, and ensuring adequate funding for home care.  Finally, the organization will increase awareness of and streamline enrollment for existing senior health care programs.

County of Dukes County will provide enrollment assistance at local community organizations to assist consumers in setting up Health Information Exchange accounts, completing applications, checking statuses and making updates.  They will also develop and disseminate information on the Affordable Care Act, with a focus on immigrants and tribal members.  Finally, social media, paid and free media will be used to reach members of the general public on health coverage options.  

Whittier Street Health Center will provide eligibility assistance and coordinate care for patients, making referrals within the health center, with other health care providers, and community partners.  They will continue to foster the Building Vibrant Communities program to employ housing development residents as community health workers to assist consumers with their health and social needs.  Community health workers will be trained in patient navigation to equip consumers in connecting with primary care and other social and health services.