Community health centers get $150M to help uninsured enroll in new coverage

The funding is to hire staff, train existing staff and perform outreach and educational activities. The idea is to help consumers sign up for coverage sold through new online insurance marketplaces that are scheduled to open on Oct. 1 under the Affordable Care Act.

Los Angeles Times: Obama Administration Moves To Get More Enrolled In Health Insurance
The Obama administration announced Thursday that it would provide millions of dollars to community health centers to help them enroll Americans in health insurance programs next year under the president's health law. The move comes as the administration faces growing pressure from Democrats and other supporters of the 2010 Affordable Care Act to show how it will get Americans into health plans, a key goal of the landmark legislation (Levey, 5/9).

The Associated Press/Washington Post: Health Centers Get $150 Million To Help The Uninsured Navigate New Coverage Options
The money addresses concerns from Congress and advocacy groups that many consumers will have a hard time navigating the health coverage options available to them next year as a mix of government programs and tax credits for private insurance kicks in (5/9).

Kaiser Health News: Capsules: Community Health Centers Get $150 Million To Boost Exchange Enrollment
Once upon a time, there were the navigators, then the in-person assisters, and the certified application counselors. Now, add community health centers to the list of individuals and organizations available to help consumers sign up for the new health insurance marketplaces scheduled to open Oct. 1. On Thursday, the Obama administration pledged $150 million to help community health centers provide in-person enrollment assistance to uninsured patients (Gold, 5/9).

Here's how the news is playing in a sampling of states -

Health News Florida: Community Clinics To Offer Obamacare Enrollment
Four dozen community health centers in Florida are eligible to share $8 million in federal grants to become enrollment centers for uninsured people who need to sign up for subsidized insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act, the Obama administration announced Thursday (Gentry, 5/10).

Kansas Health Institute: Safety-Net Clinics Eligible For $1.7 Million In Federal Marketplace Grants
Federal official today announced that 16 safety-net clinics in Kansas are eligible for more than $1.7 million in grants to help enroll the state's uninsured and underinsured residents in affordable health insurance plans…The insurance plans will be available through the federally administered health insurance marketplace, which is scheduled to be up and running on Oct. 1, with coverage starting Jan. 1, 2014 (Ranney, 5/9).

CT Mirror: Community Health Centers Getting Money To Help People Get Covered
Connecticut's community health centers are eligible to receive an estimated $1.55 million in federal funds to enroll people in health insurance, federal officials announced Thursday. The funds are part of $150 million being awarded to health centers across the country as part of the federal health reform law, the Affordable Care Act. The money is expected to be used to hire new staff, train existing staff and perform outreach and educational activities. The idea is to help consumers understand what coverage is available to them, determine what they're eligible for, and help them get enrolled (Becker, 5/9).