The District of Columbia’s health insurance exchange announced Tuesday 35 grants to community organizations to help people enroll in coverage, including $375,000 to Planned Parenthood.
According to the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority, the grants awarded total $6.4 million. The money is intended to provide support to over 150 “experts” who will receive 30 hours of training to learn how to assist people looking to sign up for the exchange in 2013 and 2014.
Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, D.C.’s grant is among the highest awarded.
Other groups included faith-based organizations, patient advocacy groups, civic organizations, community groups, and organizations working to combat HIV/AIDS.
“We are excited to create these partnerships with trusted organizations that have deep roots in the communities that make up the District of Columbia,” said exchange authority Chairwoman Diane C. Lewis.
The exchange explained that the organizations will focus on uninsured and “hard-to-reach” communities.
“DC Health Link Assisters are a critical part of our enrollment efforts,” Mila Kofman, the executive director of the exchange, said. “The District’s low uninsured rate is both great news and a challenge. There are no easy to reach uninsured people, so we have to be smart, strategic, and creative. These organizations are trusted voices and sources of information in their communities and they will be our boots on the ground.
The exchange is set to open on Oct. 1, with coverage beginning on Jan. 1, 2014.
See the list of the 35 groups:
(H/T Philip Klein)