HHS releases $150M to health centers for Affordable Care outreach

Federal funds totaling $150 million began flowing today to local health centers in all 50 states to help uninsured Americans understand and sign up for new health coverage options under the Affordable Care Act.

Applications from 1,159 health centers were chosen for funding, some of which will cover salaries for an additional 2,900 outreach and eligibility assistance workers.

Kathleen Sebelius

“We know it won’t be easy,” Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, estimating that 3.7 million uninsured Americans will be assisted with enrollment through the process, said at a news conference.

The funding is focused on helping consumers understand their coverage options through the new Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. But the announcement made it clear that enrolling as many eligible Americans as possible also is the goal of the funding.

“Having trained, face-to-face assistance in enrollment from trusted resources at local health centers means that more people will get the help they need,” Health Resources and Services Administration Administrator Mary Wakefield, PhD, RN, said.

Open enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace begins Oct. 2.