(Altered Photo. Original: Nick Youngson)
Enroll Michigan has discovered their taxpayer funded grant will be cut by 90%, from $1.2 million to less than $130,000 this year. ACCESS, the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services in Dearborn, will see funding cut by more than a third, from $555,000 to $352,000.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) who oversee the Obamacare program say the cuts are part of a change to the formula that bases funding on performance. CMS claims in 2016 "Navigators received $62.5 million in federal grants to enroll 81,426 people – just 0.7% of total enrollees."
The cuts follow the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announcement that it would reduce funding for so-called Navigators by 40% overall and penalize those that failed to meet targets.
"These cuts will be absolutely devastating for Michiganders who are looking for assistance in enrolling in health insurance," said Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.) in a press release. "This is just the latest example of the Trump administration attempting to sabotage the ACA — this time at the particular expense of the health of Michiganders.
Dizzy Warren, executive director of Enroll Michigan says, “The cut in funding for the 2017-18 will absolutely have a detrimental effect on our ability to continue to provide the full range of navigator services that our consumers need. In many instances it will increase the inevitable churning that takes place due to consumers’ confusion, and mistakes in selecting the best healthcare coverage options available to them.”
At ACCESS, Farah Erzouki, who is part of the outreach program, said, "Without this essential service, a large number of this under-served population would be left on their own to navigate the complexities of our health care system."
Only 8 insurers plan to offer coverage in Michigan in 2018, but many are limited to certain areas. For example upper Michigan offers only one provider, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
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