This presentation will discuss how utilizing the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Service federally funded statewide Navigator program can increase reimbursable rates and revenue for patient services by moving uninsured patients from sliding scale cash payments, financial assistance and/or write off expenditures to a revenue generating payment stream. Rural health providers will learn how revenue and access to care can be increased by connecting uninsured patients and those who lose Medicaid or employer-based coverage to a local federal CMS Certified Marketplace Navigator. Navigators provide free one-on-one assistance with educating on Marketplace options, applying, choosing a plan their existing healthcare provider accepts, filing appeals, and mediating Medicaid and/or Marketplace plan issues. Education will be provided on how Navigators can assist patients with maintaining coverage thus preventing coverage gaps, on clinical coverage to care steps and how to change to a health plan accepted within the clinic/hospital networks to increase patients’ utilization of reimbursable services and preventive care.
Learning Objectives- Explain and explore affordable federal Marketplace Health Insurance Plans and resources available to patients who are uninsured, not income ineligible for Medicaid, and/or have lost either Medicaid or employer-based coverage.
- Identify the benefits, cost savings, and revenue generating resources available through utilizing the statewide federally funded Marketplace/Medicaid Health Insurance Navigator network to move uninsured patients from sliding scale cash payments, financial assistance and/or as write off expenditures to reimbursable Marketplace Health Insurance options.
- Learn how to refer patients to a local CMS Certified Navigator for free remote Navigator assistance with checking eligibility, updating existing accounts to maintain coverage, and applying for a Marketplace, Medicaid or LaCHIP Health Insurance Plan through utilizing the Navigator easy and fast direct referral process.
After this session, attendees will be able to:
- Implement Best Practices: Integrate best practices for ensuring patients have access and obtain affordable health insurance either from the Health Insurance Marketplace and/or Medicaid by connecting to a local CMS Certified Navigator for free one-on-one individual confidential eligibility and application assistance.
- Promote Educational Opportunities: Provide education to rural healthcare staff and patients about the Health Insurance Marketplace coverage available to all Louisiana residents who do not have Medicaid and/or employer-based insurance coverage.
- Engage in Program Partnerships: Establish a partnership with the federally funded CMS Navigator program for submitting patient referrals to their local CMS Certified Navigator to increase insured patient rate and revenue streams.
