Grant Partners

Metro Housing|Boston, in partnership with Boston Medical Center (BMC), is serving patient families who face imminent homelessness, eviction, foreclosure, or have an impending housing court date. Families referred by the hospital’s Pediatric Emergency Department, Obstetrics Clinic, Newborn Nursery, and the Domestic Violence Program are provided with complex stabilization services. In addition to supporting clients, the grant partners will develop infrastructure for sustainable and efficient data sharing across the two organizations.

East Boston Neighborhood Health Center (EBNHC) serves one of the largest Latinx populations in the state and several of the communities it serves have among the highest rates of uninsurance. EBNHC will conduct outreach in partnership with local community organizations, proactively assist self-pay patients in applying for coverage, and promote enrollment services through social media and in clinical areas of the health center. It will also cross-train call center staff to provide appropriate health insurance information (pre-and-post enrollment) and support to patients. Through 2021, specific grant plans may be adjusted to meet the current health and safety guidelines to protect the wellbeing of clients, patients, and staff.

Health Care for All (HCFA) will continue to focus on advocating for and with consumers on issues related to health care access, quality, and cost.  It will convene a new online learning program called Health Justice Academy: Building Health Care Power in Our Communities. This unique training is designed to educate consumers and organizations and build support for important policy proposals during the pandemic and beyond. A key focus area for HCFA is working with immigrant communities and mixed-status households by partnering with community-based organizations and Spanish and Portuguese-language media outlets to spread the news that seeking COVID-19 testing and treatment will not be “counted” toward a public charge determination. HCFA will also advocate for legislation that will expand comprehensive MassHealth coverage to children who would currently be eligible for MassHealth except for their immigration status.

Brockton Neighborhood Health Center, which serves a community with one of the state’s highest number of uninsured residents, will partner with local organizations to expand its reach to specific populations, including immigrants, recently or chronically unemployed, residents recovering from substance use disorder, probationers and parolees. Through 2021, specific grant plans may be adjusted to meet the current health and safety guidelines to protect the wellbeing of clients, patients, and staff.

Mass Senior Action Council (MSAC) will collaborate with MLRI and HCFA to educate members about COVID-related changes within MassHealth to identify areas for long term change and identify opportunities to shape evolving telehealth policy. In addition, MSAC will advocate for further expansion of the Medicare Savings Programs and improve prescription drug cost affordability through legislative and administrative actions.

The Community Builders (TCB), in partnership with the Family Health Center of Worcester, Worcester Addresses Childhood Trauma (Worcester ACT), the Regional Environmental Council (REC) Clark University, and Boston College, is working to understand and document the connections between trauma and housing instability.  The partner organizations are integrating trauma-informed services, supports and property management protocols to assist residents in maintaining housing stability. Trauma-informed care-trained Community Life staff and resident Health Champions support residents by providing resources and education through group information sessions and other community-based activities. They also provide referrals to needed services, including emergency and ongoing support with Worcester ACT, trauma treatment through Family Health Center of Worcester, food access through the REC, and eviction prevention services. To support these activities, TCB is increasing its capacity by supporting ongoing training and coaching for staff, developing leadership opportunities for residents, and reviewing and adapting the infrastructure necessary for this cross-sectoral partnership to be sustained.

Greater New Bedford Community Health Center, which serves a community with a high rate of uninsurance, will provide screening, education, enrollment, and post-enrollment services for patients and community residents, including information on how to maintain insurance coverage. It will also attend community events and partner with the Immigrant Assistance Center to inform individuals about the insurance application process and to answer questions about public charge. Through 2021, specific grant plans may be adjusted to meet the current health and safety guidelines to protect the wellbeing of clients, patients, and staff.

Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program will bridge gaps in care for homeless immigrant and non-English speaking patients by enhancing and expanding outreach and health insurance enrollment services at key locations, including shelter sites, where it sees a large volume of patients with limited English language proficiency. It will also expand access to enrollment services at its Oasis Clinic, a dedicated clinic that incorporates a variety of services to meet the needs of immigrants and patients with limited English proficiency. At the clinic, it will inform patients about their health coverage, the requirements for retaining benefits, and provide advice for overcoming logistical barriers that homelessness brings in maintaining coverage. It will also include enrollment services on its outreach van in East Boston, which serves primarily immigrant and uninsured patients. Through 2021, specific grant plans may be adjusted to meet the current health and safety guidelines to protect the wellbeing of clients, patients, and staff.

Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee (CEOC), which serves several communities with high rates of uninsured residents, will work to reduce barriers to obtaining insurance enrollment assistance by co-locating enrollment services where individuals live, or where they receive other services. CEOC will focus on locations where individuals who are more likely to be uninsured may frequent, such as food pantries, homeless shelters, single-room occupancy residences, English as a Second Language programs, cultural organizations, and job and career service programs. It will also bundle insurance enrollment assistance with its other programs, including the food pantry, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollment, free tax preparation, as well as housing stabilization services.

The Dimock Center will hire a second community outreach coordinator to expand its reach in communities with high rates of uninsurance, developing relationships with community organizations, and supporting consumers to enroll in and maintain health insurance coverage. It will expand hours at its financial counseling office during the week and increase technological capacity to further aid patients in filing electronic documents. The Dimock Center will expand its efforts to reach specific populations, including seniors who may have additional barriers to enrolling in coverage, and it will continue to participate in community events, including the Latino Family Festival, Boston Public Schools Back to School festivals, and local farmers’ markets.

The Dimock Center, which serves a community with a high rate of uninsurance, will strengthen its capacity to provide health insurance outreach and enrollment services, ensuring that its clients gain knowledge about coverage options as well as how to access and navigate the health care system. The Dimock Center will focus on clients with substance use disorder, specifically those seeking to and who are currently accessing services at its inpatient detox and residential recovery homes. These clients are often disconnected from the health care system, including health insurance coverage, therefore the Dimock Center will enhance its services to ensure that clients interested or participating in these programs are connected with financial counselors to enroll in, maintain coverage. Through 2021, specific grant plans may be adjusted to meet the current health and safety guidelines to protect the wellbeing of clients, patients, and staff.

Brockton Neighborhood Health Center, which serves a community with one of the state’s highest number of uninsured residents, will partner with local organizations to expand its reach to specific populations, including immigrants, recently or chronically unemployed, residents recovering from substance use disorder, probationers and parolees. It will position its certified application counselor in the community five days a week and work with consumers post-enrollment to ensure that they maintain coverage and have access to care.

Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center will enhance partnerships with other community organizations in the region for outreach and enrollment services and it will increase visibility in the community where the most vulnerable clients are likely to congregate, including community centers, cultural events, and libraries. To better assist clients, the health center will implement a schedule to increase access to assistance. It will proactively provide clients with the tools they need to prevent lapses in coverage and will work with insurers to obtain lists of members who are up for renewal, supporting those patients in the re-determination process. Through 2021, specific grant plans may be adjusted to meet the current health and safety guidelines to protect the wellbeing of clients, patients, and staff.

Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL) will identify new ways to conduct virtual organizing in response to the ongoing pandemic. BCIL will continue to provide personal protective equipment to people with disabilities and advocate with MassHealth for stepped-up personal protective equipment distribution for people with disabilities. A key focus area for BCIL will be advocating for increased effectiveness with new One Care plans, a plan that combines MassHealth and Medicare benefits. Additionally, BCIL will continue to co-coordinate the Dignity Alliance of MA, a new advocacy effort that has attracted over 30 groups committed to real change beyond nursing home reform. It will also continue its involvement with the Disability Advocates Advancing our Healthcare Rights Coalition, focusing on social determinants of health.

Lowell Community Health Center, which serves a community with a high rate of uninsurance, will strengthen services to engage and enroll clients in health insurance and educate staff and community-based agencies about the health care system to increase understanding and trust, especially among refugee and immigrant populations. It will increase efficiencies to improve patient access to health insurance benefits services and it will increase its capacity to formalize tracking systems for its patients to address churn. Lowell Community Health Center will increase timely, culturally and linguistically appropriate guidance to assist clients in making informed decisions and maintaining health insurance.