# Presentation: 856671

## Health Access: Lessons Learned

- HCAP New Grantee Orientation
- November 10, 2005
- Marcy Buren, MSW, CSW

## Health Access Program Overview

- Initially funded in September 2001
- Received 4 years of HCAP funding
- Located in Flint, MI serving Genesee County
- Genesys Health System is our fiduciary
- Other funding sources include Ascension Health, United Way of Genesee County, First Presbyterian Church and Genesee Health Plan

## Enrollment

- Main focus on adults 19-64 up to 175% of FPL
- 7,838 people have been enrolled by our staff in the county health plan and/or linked with a medical home
- We assisted 648 people in getting enrolled in Medicaid
- 626 children have been assisted in enrolling in Michigan’s SCHIP program

## Care Management

- Assistance in applying for charity care
- Linking with providers/community resources for non-covered benefits
- Medical equipment/supplies
- Education- disease information, developing a relationship with PCP, appropriate use of ER, etc.
- 5,404 individuals have received Care Management services

## Prescription Assistance

- Applying for prescription assistance programs through pharmaceutical companies
- Small fund to pay for temporary supply of some medications
- To date, we have assisted 2,640 people and submitted 4,929 applications to pharmaceutical companies
- Our clients have received free medication with a retail value of $4,544,979

## Health Access Program

- Lessons Learned

## Hire the Right People

- Staff must be able to relate to the people they serve
- Ability to provide excellent customer service
- Work as part of a team
- Employee recognition and support

## Flexibility

- May need to re-define roles and processes throughout the development and implementation of your program
- Be prepared for change
- Keep in contact with HRSA and your Project Officer
- Use the expertise of other HCAP grantees

## Relationships are Crucial

- Providers/physicians
- Community partners
- Funders
- Clients
- Local/state/national lawmakers
- Media

## Community Buy-in

- Health care providers (especially the safety net providers)
- Community leaders
- Elected officials
- Consumers

## Traditional & Non-Traditional Outreach

- Doctors/providers
- Health fairs
- Media
- Word of mouth
- Churches/faith groups
- Social service agencies
- Website
- Cover the Uninsured Week

- Community events
- Small businesses
- Colleges/universities
- Parent groups
- Schools
- Business expos
- “First Call for Help”

## Evaluation

- Clear goals and objectives from the beginning
- Collect the right data
- Are you doing what you said you would do? Is it working?
- Consider hiring an outside evaluator if you can’t/don’t want to do it internally
- Use your evaluation data to make changes to your program as necessary

## IT System

- A good IT system is crucial to the success of your program and evaluation
- Be sure to choose a system that does everything you need
- Think about sustainability of this system at the end of your HCAP funding
- Ensure buy-in from your partners and willingness to utilize the system

## Sustainability

- Begin to think about sustainability from the beginning
- Don’t plan on only one source of funding or rely on only one funder
- Be willing to change the way that you and your partners do business to achieve sustainability

## Have Fun!

- When things get stressful, it’s important to be able to have fun with your colleagues!
- Celebrate your successes

## For More Information

- 			Marcy Buren
- 			Director, Health Access
- 			1428 W. Court Street
- 			Flint, MI 48503
- 			(810) 232-4200
- 			mburen@genesys.org