USF Health hosted a panel of leaders discussing the impact of the Affordable Care Act on communities and their health care organizations.

Question: How do you build an integrated health system to stem the unsustainable rise in health care costs that provides access to affordable, high-quality care at all stages of life, while optimizing preventive care to help avoid disease and promote well being in individuals and communities?

Answer(s): It’s complicated

The complexities inherent in fixing a fragmented health system were discussed when USF Health hosted a panel discussion April 20 at its Center for Advanced Medical Simulation and Learning (CAMLS).

Representing academia, government and business and industry, the panel was moderated by Jay Wolfson, DrPH, JD, associate vice president for health law, policy and safety at USF Health.  The panelists were Charles Lockwood, MD, senior vice president of USF Health and dean, Morsani College of Medicine; Mayor Bob Buckhorn, City of Tampa; Meredith Rosenthal, PhD, associate dean for diversity and professor of health economics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Mark Anderson, DSc, senior vice president of ambulatory services, Tampa General Hospital; and Jessica Cooper, executive vice president and director of sustainability for Delos Solutions, a real estate firm that has pioneered designing buildings to promote the health of occupants.

Topics touched on ranged from the Affordable Care Act, the evolution of health care payments from fee-for-service to capitated payments, and clinically integrated networks to telehealth and community wellness districts.

While they brought different perspectives to the table, all the panelists could agree on one thing. Transitioning to a system that balances optimal health outcomes while keeping costs affordable requires strong leadership, new and meaningful collaborations and evidence-based policies.

Dr. Rosenthal, who has advised federal and state policy makers in health payment policy and implementation, was in Tampa as the 2016 Alpha Omega Alpha Visiting Professor, hosted by the Morsani College of Medicine’s chapter of AOA, a premier national medical honor society.

“The United States spends more per capita on health care than any other nation, and it’s at the expense of other public and personal spending,” Dr. Rosenthal said. “Yet, research shows that things we can put in place to help solve the affordability problem, like reallocating some funds from acute care to various types of prevention, can also improve health outcomes. If the goal is to improve health within a budget constraint, we need to think more holistically and employ other tools of care within the community, not just the medical system.”

The following is an edited sampling of the just some of the panelists’ comments:

“The bottomline is that by 2020, 20 percent of the gross national domestic product will be involved in health care and that (growth in healthcare spending) is unsustainable. More importantly, 50 to 60 percent of the health care costs are borne by our companies, which puts them at a competitive disadvantage with other industrialized nations… And that’s driving the move to consumer-based health care, high deductibles, private exchanges and so forth, all of which will impact the medical school’s clinical revenue…”

 “So, we have to teach our medical students to live in a world that will drive down the cost of health care… They have to be efficient in every way in providing care. They have to focus on value. They have to improve outcomes – and that means evidence-based care, patient satisfaction, patient safety and reduced costs.”

“Five percent of patients account for 50 percent of health care costs. Some of (the cost) is end-of-life care, some of it is ICU care. A lot is that, on average, this 5 percent of high-cost patients has five disease states, including diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. We have to be able to provide care for this group in a much more rationale, comprehensive way than we currently do…. to help guide them among all the specialists.”

– Dr. Charles Lockwood, MD, USF Health senior vice president and dean, Morsani College of Medicine

.

“You have to be able to make the economic case to employers as to why this makes sense. Taxpayers and those who have insurance are the ones paying for the uninsured…. I think it’s an easy argument to make, notwithstanding the complexities of execution. People understand that for folks who don’t have access to health care, who walk into Tampa General’s emergency room, we pay that burden as a community and as someone who pays for insurance.”

– Mayor Bob Buckhorn, City of Tampa

.

“Complex systems require systemic solutions. That’s where health reform is moving –thinking more about the entire continuum of care and how all the pieces fit together to get to the higher value solution. It’s going to be challenging… I imagine we’ll see strategic initiatives about consolidation, including partnerships with industry where that’s feasible, although conflicts of interest may arise… But, I understand that in order to fund underfunded activities that are an important part of your mission, academic medicine will have to leverage that in some way.”

“I hope what we’re talking about in health reform is taking money out of low-value health care services and investing it in health…. There is not a roadmap for a lot of this. There are some successful initiatives that can be adopted, but it’s hard work and requires up front investment for long-run payoffs. That’s a real political challenge.“

-Meredith Rosenthal, PhD, health economist, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

.

“We know that we need to do prevention and wellness programs. We know that we need to align with partners in the primary care arena… We’re having a huge shift into the outpatient arena, and it’s driving us more and more toward trying to identify the ambulatory programs that will serve the needs of our patients and their families out in the community.”

– Mark Anderson, DSc, senior vice president of ambulatory services, Tampa General Hospital

.

 “There is public health and design research showing that building and spaces can teach. Our architecture and building infrastructure, the real estate, is more than just four walls and a roof, more than the streets you walk around on. They provide environmental cues that enable and encourage us to make healthier decisions… and potentially also impact our ultimate habits and behavior. So, that’s an exciting prospect when we consider a more systemic change, a sea change really, in the way we think about preventative health.”

– Jessica Cooper,  executive vice president, Delos Solutions

.

“An important component that will shape the future of our health care system in the home, in the hospital, in the community and in the training environment has to do with health care technologies, ranging from the health information we want to collect from patients at the point of care to virtual technologies associated with patient care like robotics from a distance and other virtual patient encounters.”

– Jay Wolfson, DrPH, JD, USF Health associate vice president for health law, policy and safety

During the audience question-and-answer session, hospitalist Deborah DeWaay, associate dean for undergraduate medical education at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, raised the issue of physician end-of-life care conversations with families of patients.

Catherine Lynch, MD, associate vice president of women’s health and faculty development at USF Health and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Morsani College of Medicine, hosted and helped convene the panel.

.

Photos by Eric Younghans, USF Health Communications

Tampa, FL (April 6, 2016) — Meredith Rosenthal, PhD, professor of health economics and policy and associate dean for diversity at Harvard School of Public Health, will lead a panel discussion about the impact of the Affordable Care Act on communities and their health care organizations at 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 20, at the USF Health Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS), 124 S. Franklin St., Tampa, FL 33602.

Dr. Rosenthal will engage in the discussion with health care and policy experts from USF Health and the community. The event is free and open to the public.

Meredith Rosenthal, PhD

Panelists will include Charles Lockwood, MD, senior vice president of USF Health and dean, Morsani College of Medicine; Mayor Bob Buckhorn, City of Tampa; Jessica Cooper, executive vice president, Delos Solutions; Mark Anderson, DSc, senior vice president of ambulatory services, Tampa General Hospital; and Jay Wolfson, DrPH, JD, associate vice president of health law, USF Health. Catherine Lynch, MD, associate vice president for women’s health, USF Health, will moderate.

Dr. Rosenthal’s research focuses on policies to help slow growth in health care spending while improving quality of care (value-based health care), including changes in payment incentives, benefits design and behavioral “nudges” to both patients and providers. She has advised federal and state policy makers in health care payment policy and implementation.

While in Tampa, Dr. Rosenthal will also meet with USF Health faculty and students as the 2016 Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Visiting Professor, hosted by the Morsani College of Medicine’s chapter of AOA, a premier national medical honor society.

For more information, please contact Leslie Lowe at llowe1@health.usf.edu.

For the last 3 years Jodi Ray’s team has successfully partnered with key organizations statewide, providing enrollment education and outreach to vulnerable populations in all 67 Florida counties

Tampa, FL (Sept. 17, 2015) — Over the last three years, the University of South Florida has been awarded more than $14.5 million in federal Navigator grants to help eligible uninsured Floridians get health care coverage.

That total includes a $5.9 million 2016 Navigator grant announced Sept. 2 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which awarded a total of nearly $67 million in grants in 34 states federally facilitated and state partnership Health Insurance Marketplaces.  All recipients will have the opportunity to renew their grants for the next two years.

The Year 3 Navigator grant marks the second consecutive year that Jodi Ray’s team at the Florida Covering Kids & Families program (FL-CKF), USF College of Public Health, has won the largest Navigator grant in the country and in Florida.  Once again the program, directed by Ray, covers all 67 Florida counties, working with consortium partners that deploy in-person assisters known as navigators to explain health insurance options and help people sign up for plans.

“Jodi Ray and her incredible team are dedicated to helping everyone in Florida secure the means to access the health care they need to live full, productive lives,” said Donna Petersen, ScD, dean of the USF College of Public Health. “This level of support three years in a row is a clear testament to the incredible knowledge, skill and talent this group has cultivated over many years, connecting Florida families to health care coverage.  The College of Public Health couldn’t be prouder of their continued excellent work.”

For three years running, Jodi Ray, director of the Florida Covering Kids and Families program at the USF College of Public Health, has been the lead investigator for USF’s Navigator grant.

In its third year, the program will focus on helping consumers understand how to get the most out of their coverage as well continue new enrollments and renewals, Ray said.

“We want people who get health coverage to keep it and to understand how to use their benefits correctly to access care,” she said. “We will continue to make a concerted effort to target hard-to-reach populations and hone in on post-enrollment activities.”

USF FL-CKF will work with the following 11 consortium partners this year to expand education, outreach and enrollment:

• Florida CHAIN
• 90Works
• WellFlorida Council
• Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida
• United Way of Brevard
• Primary Care Access Network
• The Family Healthcare Foundation
• Health Council of Southeast Florida
• Broward Regional Health Planning Council
• Health Council of South Florida
• Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida

-USF Health-

USF Health’s mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, and the USF Physicians Group. USF Health is an integral part of the University of South Florida, a high-impact, global research university dedicated to student success. For more information, visit health.usf.edu.

Media contact:
Anne DeLotto Baier, USF Health Communications
abaier@health.usf.edu or (813) 974-3303

“USF, Get Covered!” open to university campus, community; anyone with questions about coverage welcome

Tampa, FL (March. 24, 2014) – As the March 31 deadline to enroll for coverage under the Affordable Care Act nears, two on-site community outreach events to help consumers learn more their options through the Health Insurance Marketplace will be held at the University of South Florida Tampa campus this week and next.

Navigators from USF Health’s Florida Covering Kids & Families program, in partnership with USF Student Health Services, will host the following two “USF, Get Covered!” events:

–          Wednesday March 26:  9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., USF Marshall Student Center

–          Monday, March 31 (last day for open enrollment in 2014): 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., USF Student Health Services Annex Conference Room

Representatives from Enroll America will offer education about the Marketplace, and navigators can help individuals and families sort out the coverage choices and guide those interested in enrolling through the application process.

Walk-ins are welcome, but will be assisted on a first-come, first-served basis; therefore, registration is recommended.  Accommodations for people with disabilities or those who speak other languages can be made when scheduling an appointment. Visitors parking on the USF Tampa campus are required to purchase a daily parking permit.

To register in advance, please email mchavez1@health.usf.edu, or call (813) 974-0176. 

 The $4.2 million navigator grant awarded to USF last year was the largest in Florida. USF Health works with 10 consortium partners statewide to help those who want assistance shopping for and enrolling in private healthcare insurance available through the online marketplace.

                                                                                                                                                                 -USF Health-

USF Health’s mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences; and the USF Physician’s Group. The University of South Florida is a Top 50 research university in total research expenditures among both public and private institutions nationwide, according to the National Science Foundation. For more information, visit www.health.usf.edu

 Media contact:
Anne DeLotto Baier, USF Health Communications
(813) 974-3303, or abaier@health.usf.edu

Tamina Johnson, a USF engineering sciences doctoral student, knows a lot about the complexities of proteins, but she needed a little help when it came to choosing healthcare insurance for the first time.

Johnson, 29, was among the consumers from across campus and the surrounding community, including 15 USF students, who were assisted at the March 6 “Nav-Lab Enrollment Blowout” at USF Health.

Representatives from Enroll America offered education about the Health Insurance Marketplace, while navigators from USF Health, Florida CHAIN and Covering Tampa Bay, helped individuals and families interested in enrolling with the application process.

USF graduate student Tamina Johnson, left, discusses her healthcare coverage options with Catherine Fuhrman, a navigator with the Family Healthcare Foundation.

“There are a lot of scenarios for coverage, so coming in today really helped guide me through the options,” said Johnson, who kept her Nav-Lab appointment despite the downpour and mid-day tornado warnings.

Johnson began looking at plans online in November. She said she wants health insurance but has difficulty affording it as a graduate student.  She was pleased to find that she could sign up for a plan through the marketplace that would provide significant savings.

“This way I don’t have to pay as much, because I also need money to live on and eat with,” she said.

Jodi Ray, project director for Florida Covering Kids & Families based at the University of South Florida College of Public Health, leads more than 100 navigators across Florida, which has the second highest rate of uninsured in the country.

Jodi Ray, project director of the Florida Covering Kids & Families program at the Chiles Center for Health Mothers and Babies, USF College of Public Health, oversees the USF navigator grant, the largest in the state.

As the March 31 deadline to enroll for coverage under the Affordable Care Act this year nears, the USF navigator group continues to team with its consortium partners to push community outreach initiatives targeting uninsured Floridians, Ray said. That includes, she said, the so-called “young invincibles,” adults 18 to 34, an age range that tends to be healthier and can help balance out risk in the insurance pool to keep premiums in check.

Kristen Nash, a political science graduate student at USF, has worked at the grassroots level on campus and in the community to help get more of her young adult peers covered.

Kristen Nash, 23, a USF political science graduate student and field organizer for Enroll America, says she feels fortunate to be covered as a dependent under her parents’ health insurance plan.  But, she said, that isn’t always an option for young adults under age 26.

“A significant number of students cannot remain under a parent’s plan, either because their parents cannot afford to add them to an employer’s health insurance policy through work, their parents are retired, or for some other reason,” Nash said.

USF navigator project coordinator Xonjenese Jacobs, right, with Ryan Morris, a health organizer for Florida CHAIN.

Both Ray and Nash point out a young person injured in an accident or even hit with a sudden illness can quickly run into financial difficulty when medical bills mount.

“It’s really important to get covered,” Nash said. “Starting early with preventive care, which is free under the plans, can help us live better.”

USF Navigators will offer another onsite event to help those interested  find out about healthcare coverage from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday, March 17, at USF Student Health Services.  To register, email mchavez1@health.usf.edu or call 813-974-0176; walks-in are also welcome.

Photos by Eric Younghans, USF Health Communications

“Nav-Lab” open to USF campus, community; anyone with questions about coverage welcome

Tampa, FL (Feb. 25, 2014) — An on-site community outreach event to help consumers learn more about their enrollment options in the federal Health Insurance Marketplace will be held 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday March 6, in the USF Health Computer Lab at the Faculty Office Building (first floor), 13220 USF Laurel Drive, Tampa, FL 33612.

Navigators from USF Health, joined by those from Florida CHAIN and Covering Tampa Bay, will be able to assist 40 people an hour.   Representatives from Enroll America will offer education about the Marketplace, and navigators can help individuals and families sort out the coverage choices and guide those interested in enrolling through the application process.

“Getting covered is about taking personal responsibility for your health and financial well-being,” said Jodi Ray, project director of the Florida Covering Kids & Families program at the USF Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies, College of Public Health. “We can help people navigate the Marketplace to find a plan that provides the care they need and fits their budgets.”

The $4.2 million navigator grant awarded to the University of South Florida last year was the largest in Florida. USF Health works with 10 consortium partners across the state to help those who want assistance shopping for and enrolling in private healthcare insurance available through the online marketplace.

The deadline this year to enroll for coverage under the Affordable Care Act is March 31.

“Nav-Lab” walk-ins are welcome, but registration is recommended because parking is limited.

For more information or to register, please email mchavez1@health.usf.edu, or call (813) 974-0176.  Accommodations for people with disabilities or those who speak other languages can be made when appointments are scheduled.

Visitors parking on the USF Tampa campus are required to purchase a daily parking permit.  USF students, faculty and staff may park in the Laurel Drive Parking Garage, top floor, or Lot 42 adjacent to the garage. In addition, a Bull runner shuttle stops at the corner of Laurel and Holly Drives, immediately in front of the Faculty Office Building, where the Nav-Lab event will be.

USF Health navigator Michelle Ray assists a consumer with enrollment.

                                                                                                       -USF Health-

USF Health’s mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences; and the USF Physician’s Group. The University of South Florida is a Top 50 research university in total research expenditures among both public and private institutions nationwide, according to the National Science Foundation. For more information, visit www.health.usf.edu

Media Contact:
Anne DeLotto Baier, USF Health Communications
abaier@health.usf.edu or (813) 974-3300

Chris Dawson, 20, reared by his grandparents, lost health insurance when he “aged out” of the state foster care system at age 18.  So, the University of South Florida College of Public Health student said he was eager to be one of the first Tampa Bay consumers to seek navigator assistance when the Health Insurance Marketplace launched Oct. 1.

For the last two years, Dawson has been unable to pay out of pocket to treat flare-ups of bronchitis and recurrent sinus infections.  “I know many other students in my same circumstances — not covered because health insurance is simply not affordable,” Dawson said. “There shouldn’t be a battle between buying food and healthcare coverage.”

Jodi Ray, project director of the Florida Covering Kids and Families program at the Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies, USF College of Public Health, with Chris Dawson, a USF public health student, at the recent panel discussion on affordable health care.

Savanah Goodland, 23, a part-time St. Petersburg College student, supports herself as a full-time waitress but receives no benefits.  Goodland’s uninsured younger brother has a congenital heart defect and a recent health scare generated thousands of dollars in hospital bills. Under a provision of the Affordable Care Act, starting in 2014, most plans cannot deny coverage or charge more to individuals, with a pre-existing health condition, like Goodland’s brother.

“We’ve been given a new day,” said Goodland, referring to the opportunity she and her brother have to apply for coverage through the marketplace.

Dawson and Goodland participated in a panel discussion Oct. 8 with U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Tampa area navigators and consumers.  The event was held at the USF Health Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation.   Jodi Ray, project director for Florida Covering Kids and Families (FL-CKF) program, part of the Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies, USF College of Public Health, moderated the panel.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius joined the panel of Tampa area navigators and consumers.

In August, the FL-CKF program received a $4.2-million navigator grant – the largest grant of eight such grants awarded in Florida — to help educate and enroll consumers in the marketplace.  The online marketplace is aimed at those cannot obtain affordable coverage through employers or government programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

“We’ve been busy,” Ray said of the USF-based navigator office and USF’s 10 consortium partners across the state.

The Healthcare.gov site had more than 10 million hits its first week.  Even while technicians are working 24/7 to improve the site, Sebelius said, grassroots efforts in communities across the country continue to help people apply to the insurance marketplace – online, over the phone, and with paper applications.

“It’s important to remember this first open enrollment period is 26 weeks… the earliest any benefits start is January 1.  Prices (for plans) are locked in; we won’t run out of product,” Sebelius said.  “We are very pleased with the USF navigation grant efforts.  Jodi’s organization has had lots of experience helping families understand affordable health care.”

Sebelius answers media questions following the event at the USF Health Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation.

Over the years, Ray has managed a network of collaborative partnerships and served as principal investigator on several federal, state and private grants aimed at increasing enrollment in Florida KidCare, the state’s Children’s Health Coverage Program (CHIP) and Medicaid. In January, the efforts earned Ray and USF national recognition from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services with the esteemed Excellence in Children’s Health Outreach and Enrollment award.

City of Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Donna Peterson, interim senior vice president of USF Health and dean of the USF College of Public Health, welcomed Sebelius, community leaders, media and others who gathered for the panel discussion.

“We want to continue the conversation,” Petersen said. “How will we assure that the citizens of Tampa, Florida and the country have every opportunity to be healthy… to access quality healthcare?  That’s our mission at USF Health and speaks to the core values of our community.”

At 23 percent, Florida has the nation’s second-highest rate of residents without health insurance, surpassed only by Texas.

To check out the marketplace, go to www.healthcare.gov (Localhelp.healthcare.gov), or call 1-800-318-2596.

Sebelius with panel moderator USF Health’s Jodi Ray

L to R: Consumers Savanah Goodland and Chris Dawson, and USF lead navigator Michelle Ray.

Photos by Eric Younghans, USF Health Communications

RELATED STORY:
USF navigators open for business as health insurance marketplace launches nationwide

Tampa, FL  — When the Healthcare Insurance Marketplace, a key provision of the Affordable Care Act, opened Oct. 1, USF-based navigators were prepared to help those who had made appointments.  And they continued to schedule more appointments as the day continued.

Even though the healthcare.gov website was down — federal officials reported millions of hits to the site by early afternoon– consumers received in-person assistance filling out paper applications and had many questions about their potential options answered.

USF navigator Michelle Ray (left) discusses coverage options of the health insurance marketplace with Jessica Spencer-Hammac, the first consumer to apply at the USF site. “The basic level of care is more comprehensive than anything I saw shopping outside of the marketplace,” Spencer-Hammac said.

“People want affordable health care coverage,” said Jodi Ray, project director of the Florida Covering Kids & Families program at the Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies, USF College of Public Health.

“We are scheduling people with appointments, so we can take the time with them that they need. Right now, that is working best.  People should look at the December 15 date as the deadline to apply for coverage that begins January 1, so there is still plenty of time to enroll.”

This summer, USF, along with 10 consortium partners across the state, received a $4.2-million federal grant to help individuals and families who want assistance shopping for and enrolling in private healthcare insurance available through the online marketplace. It was the largest navigator grant awarded in Florida.

Navigators, local advisors with certified training and state licenses, are available to help consumers understand their coverage options in the federal marketplace, so they can select the option that best meets their budget and needs.

They are a resource to provide outreach and unbiased education about the marketplace, and will not suggest that a consumer purchase any plan over another, Ray said.  “Navigators are ready and able to help those people who want assistance to complete the application process.”

Shoppers across the Tampa Bay area have more 100 different policies to choose from, all required to cover at least 10 essential services, including maternity care, preventive care, ambulatory care, mental health and prescription drugs.

To check out the marketplace go to:
www.healthcare.gov or 1-800-318-2596
Localhelp.healthcare.gov

To make an appointment with a navigator in Hillsborough, Pinellas or Pasco counties, contact:

The Family Healthcare Foundation:  813-995-1066

USF: Wendy Hathaway ( whathaway@health.usf.edu )
813-974-9088 office, or 813-727-9677 cell

USF: Xonjenese Jacobs ( xjacobs@health.usf.edu )
813-974-3809 office, or 813-727-8906 cell

USF Michelle Ray ( michelleray@health.usf.edu )
813-974-7735 office

Jody Ray (left), who oversees the USF navigator grant, speaks with ABC Action News health reporter Linda Hurtado on opening day of the health insurance marketplace.

July 2, 2013 —  The Florida Covering Kids & Families (FL-CKF) program at the University of South Florida’s Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies, was awarded a two-year, $1 million grant from the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This project, entitled Connecting Kids to Coverage, aims to maximize existing opportunities and structures currently in place within the statewide Florida covering Kids and Families Coalition and its network of regional collaborative partnerships to increase enrollment and retention in the Florida KidCare program.

USF’s award is among the largest of the $32 million in grants nationwide announced by DHHS to help enroll more children eligible for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). These awards are part of the $140 million included in the Affordable Care Act and the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) of 2009 for enrollment and renewal outreach.

Since joining the USF College of Public Health in 1998, Jodi Ray has made it her mission to ensure that children have access to healthcare.

“The grant will help us build on the Secretary’s Connecting Kids to Coverage Challenge to find and enroll all eligible children and support outreach strategies that have been shown to be successful in Florida,” said principal investigator Jodi Ray, program director of FL-CKF.

FL-CKF will increase the number of application assistance center networks through the state so that more  families may apply for health coverage and receive reliable assistance from trusted helpers in their own communities. Local outreach projects under this grant cover: Miami-Dade; Charlotte; Lee; Duval; Baker; Clay; St. Johns; Nassau; Broward; Hillsborough; Pinellas; Santa Rosa; Escambia; Okaloosa; Orange; and Seminole Counties.  Project participants will use grant funds to engage schools in outreach, enrollment and renewal activities through the following strategies: 

• Build upon existing networks of application assistors.
• Increase the number of school districts within the state where families may apply and receive assistance.
• Work with Florida Association of Children’s Hospitals to expand the Train-the-Trainer workshop to emergency departments and outpatient clinics within children’s hospitals statewide, as well as, add a text4baby collaboration with maternal and child health providers.
• Use community-based outreach partners to enhance the geographic areas of the local outreach projects with diverse populations and high rates of uninsured children who may qualify for Florida KidCare to identify children up for renewal and assist their families with the renewal procedures.
• Target difficult-to-reach and minority populations with the highest percentages of uninsured children partnering with Limited English Proficient (LEP) statewide.
• Enhance knowledge and expertise of application assistors through the use of technology.

USF sponsors FL-CKF, which has 14 years experience enrolling eligible children in Medicaid and CHIP.

– Photo by Aimee Blodgett, USF Communications and Marketing

RELATED STORY:
USF Magazine Voices: Jodi Ray

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USF Health’s Jay Wolfson, DrPH, JD, was in high demand by local media following this morning’s landmark Supreme Court ruling upholding the federal health care law.

“Extraordinary,” Dr. Wolfson said, commenting on the 5-4 decision that found the Affordable Care Act’s “individual mandate” constitutional as a tax. “Most of the law was upheld in large part because Chief Justice John Roberts joined the majority in deeming the mandate (valid as) a tax under the Constitution.”

The individual mandate, set to take effect in 2014, requires that virtually all Americans have health insurance or pay a penalty.

USF Health’s Jay Wolfson, DrPH, JD, is interviewed by a WUSF reporter.

“The Affordable care act’s requirement that certain individuals pay a financial penalty for not obtaining health insurance may be reasonably characterized as a tax. Because the Constitution permits such a tax, it is not our role to forbid it, or to pass upon its wisdom or fairness.” Chief Justice Roberts wrote.

The ruling allows the government to continue implementing the law, including the provision calling for states to expand Medicaid to cover millions more Americans — those with incomes up to 133 percent of the poverty line.  However, while upholding the law virtually in its entirety, the court modified a key provision by ruling that the federal government cannot withhold existing Medicaid funding from states that do not participate in the broader expansion of Medicaid eligibility.

“At this point it’s unclear what federal government can to enforce that expansion,” said Dr. Wolfson, distinguished service professor of public health and medicine and associate vice president for health law, policy and safety at USF Health.  “It’s not going to be easy to make this law work from day to day.”

The decision means the portions of the law that tend to be popular among the public, including prohibiting insurers from denying coverage of pre-existing medical conditions and allowing children up to age 26 to remain covered by family policies, remain intact.

“Many of us are just a pink slip away from losing health benefits,” Dr. Wolfson said. “This provides some sense of security or a safety net that can help reduce the worry about getting sick.”

One of the lesser-known components of the law are those that begin to push the healthcare system toward reimbursement for positive health outcomes rather than fee for service, Dr.  Wolfson said. “It will require a cultural shift to value and reward the outcomes of things physicians and hospitals do rather than the procedures that they do.

“A law alone can’t change the fundamental cultural expectations of people in our communities,” he said. “But, this law will create a platform and set of incentives for all of us, as healthcare professionals and as citizens, to participate in creating a system of care that focuses on longer-term, meaningful healthcare investments – and not those made of bricks and mortar or technology.  It will be population-based primary and preventive care systems capable of delivering personalized health services that will provide the essential combination of improved health and savings in the long term.

Photos and video by Eric Younghans, USF Health Communications