Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Healthcare Access topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Washtenaw Health Project warns federal changes could push 10'15,000 residents uninsured; proposes "Washtenaw Care"
Summary
The Washtenaw Health Project told commissioners that HR1 federal law changes could raise marketplace premiums and increase Medicaid churn, putting thousands at risk of losing coverage. The group proposed a $2.4M'$3.8M countywide program — "Washtenaw Care" — to expand enrollment assistance, public messaging and the county health plan.
Jeremy Lapides of the Washtenaw Health Project told the board that federal changes in the HR1 legislation already are starting to push marketplace premiums higher and increase administrative churn in Medicaid renewals.
"If we do nothing, 10 to 15,000 residents could lose coverage," Lapides said, citing a mix of marketplace subsidy expirations, policy exclusions for some work-permit holders and planned Medicaid work requirements. He said 20,000 residents are enrolled in Michigan's Healthy Michigan program and that as many as 40% could be affected by administrative churn or new reporting requirements.
Lapides proposed "Washtenaw Care," a coordinated countywide response focused on three core components: public messaging (clarify eligibility and counter misinformation), expanded enrollment access points and walk-in "access checkups," and growth of the county'run Washington Health Plan to cover people who otherwise have no options. He provided a preliminary cost estimate of $2.4 million to $3.8 million to scale messaging, mobile/walk-in enrollment sites and expand the local plan.
Commissioners asked practical questions about whether enrollment assistance would be in-person or virtual, whether local hospitals could support the effort and how volunteers and retired social workers could be trained. Lapides said the program must be in the community (mobile or satellite locations), rely on a trained volunteer and staff corps, and be phased so the board can prioritize funding. Several commissioners — including Ravi and Light — expressed support for exploring a phased pilot and for potential board funding to get the effort started.
Lapides said the Washtenaw Health Project already helps thousands of residents annually with Medicaid and marketplace renewals and that the additional capacity required could be built with county investment, partnerships and volunteer coordination.
Commissioners asked Lapides to return with a phased funding plan and metrics for how many additional residents would be served by incremental investments.
