Funding from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to Expand Free Public Services, Build Community Partnerships 

COLUMBUS – Ohio Department of Insurance Director Mary Jo Hudson, today, announced that $1.1 million has been made available to the State of Ohio to help Ohio consumers take full advantage of expanding opportunities provided through health care reform.

The consumer assistance grant program, funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, will

• Help consumers enroll in health coverage;
• Help consumers file complaints and appeals against health plans;
• Educate consumers about their rights and empower them to take action; and
• Track consumer complaints to help identify problems and strengthen enforcement.

“Recently enacted federal health care reforms can be difficult to navigate,” said Director Hudson. “The Department is pleased to accept these grant funds to fill some gaps in our existing consumer assistance program and build strong community partnerships to maximize the number of Ohioans we are able to assist with their health insurance needs.”

The Department will partner with the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks, UCAHN Ohio, Family Voices of Ohio and the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities to carry out the goals of this federal grant program.

The Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks will serve as the initial point of contact to assist consumers with enrollment in public assistance options or to refer callers to the Department to assist with enrollment in a health insurance plan if the consumer can afford coverage or to answer questions about an insurance claim if the consumer is already insured.

“The Association is honored to participate in this extremely important, new public/private partnership with the Ohio Department of Insurance and community partners throughout Ohio. Today, over 42% of the Ohioans served by foodbanks, food pantries and soup kitchens report they are forced to make choices between food and medicine or medical care. This grant will provide much needed help and resources to these Ohioans,” said Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive director Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks.

Community partners are especially critical to this program, and will utilize their expertise and connections to local communities to achieve grant objectives. 

UHCAN Ohio, a non-profit, non-partisan organization working to achieve high quality, affordable health care for all Ohioans, thanks the Ohio Department of Insurance for partnering with us and other consumer organizations to provide effective assistance to consumers and small businesses throughout Ohio. “This grant will enable UHCAN Ohio, in collaboration with community-based organizations throughout the state, to assist uninsured and underinsured Ohioans in accessing affordable health care resources and to educate consumers about the expanding opportunities in the new Affordable Care Act,” said Cathy Levine, executive director of UHCAN Ohio.

“Family Voices of Ohio is pleased to be a part of the Consumer Assistance Grant, and working with Ohio Department of Insurance and other consumer organizations for families in Ohio.  Family Voices of Ohio is a nonprofit organization that has Family to Family Health Information Centers throughout the state to help families who have children with special health care needs  work together with professionals and learn to navigate through various health care systems.” said Cindy Leffel, President of Family Voices of Ohio.

Cheri L. Walter, CEO, Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities, commented, “The ADAMH Board Association is pleased to partner with ODI to ensure that Ohioans with mental illness or addiction illnesses receive health care information in a manner that best meets their needs.  We know that behavioral health care IS health care.”

Ohio’s consumer assistance program has the potential to benefit thousands of Ohioans and will assist consumers both now as we transition to a more competitive, patient-centered health insurance marketplace in 2014 and once that new marketplace is established.