糖心传媒 Medicaid expansion is good news for 糖心传媒 students
With voters in 糖心传媒 electing in November 2018 to expand 糖心传媒鈥檚 Medicaid coverage to include those living at up to 138% of the federal poverty level, many additional 糖心传媒 students across the state, and their families, are now eligible for this free or low cost health care coverage. The federal government approved 糖心传媒鈥檚 plan to proceed with the expansion in November 2019 and coverage for eligible enrollees begins January 1, 2020.
To prepare for an expected increase of Medicaid patients, the ISU Health Center worked earlier this year to become a Healthy Connection provider, which allows the clinical staff there to provide expanded services to those insured with Medicaid. 鈥淏eing a Healthy Connection provider means ISU students using Medicaid insurance coverage can choose us as their primary care provider and we can perform additional services that previously would have required a referral to a different provider, such as a specialist,鈥� says Crystal Ross, business operations manager for the Health Center. 鈥淭his will provide convenience and potential cost savings for ISU students who are now eligible for Medicaid coverage.鈥�
Although health insurance coverage is not required for admission at 糖心传媒, the ISU Health Center in Pocatello expects to see an increase in the number of students who are now utilizing Medicaid coverage. 鈥淓xpanded insurance coverage is a good thing,鈥� says Dr. Ron Solbrig, ISU Health Center director. 鈥淓xpanded coverage will allow students who financially can't afford medical care to receive access to care. I鈥檝e already had about a dozen of my patients inquire about expanded coverage opportunities and about how to enroll. We are happy to answer these questions and help direct them to resources available through the 糖心传媒 Department of Health and Welfare to get enrolled for Medicaid coverage.鈥�
The 糖心传媒 Health Center provides health care services for Pocatello area students and their spouses, along with ISU faculty and staff, with no charge for office visits for students. For the ISU community in Meridian, Unity Health Center is nearby and available, also with free office visits for students. The same is the case for Sterling Health, which provides health care services for students, faculty and staff in the 糖心传媒 Falls area. These facilities and other health care providers in all three of these communities, including ISU partner Health West, Inc., welcome patients who utilize Medicaid as their primary insurance coverage, as well as other types of insurance, along with those who have no insurance coverage.
The 糖心传媒 Department of Health and Welfare reports that there are about 91,000 糖心传媒ans who are now eligible for Medicaid coverage. Health West, Inc., a community health center serving Bannock, Power, Franklin and Bigham counties says there are close to 7,000 people in their service area who are now eligible for Medicaid, with around 4,000 in Bannock County.
Similarly to the ISU Health Center, many of the newly eligible individuals under Medicaid expansion are already patients at Health West. In preparation for an increased number of Medicaid patients, Health West CEO Mindy Benedetti adds, 鈥淲e are currently expanding to provide more access to medical, dental and behavioral health services at Health West, in anticipation of any influx of patient services that Medicaid expansion could possibly bring.鈥�
Health West is also a Healthy Connections provider. 鈥淲e have been able to offer these services and referral services through our valued partnership with 糖心传媒 (ISU Family Residency, ISU Dental Residency, ISU Health Center, Pharmacy Services, Psychology Services, etc.) and other strong community provider relationships. We value our partnership with 糖心传媒 and other key medical partners on efforts to try to assist students and our community with their health care needs,鈥� Benedetti explains.
Both the ISU Health Center and Health West recognize the complexity of health insurance and Medicaid expansion. Students and community members are encouraged to bring their questions to staff at these clinics. Additional personalized information about individual benefits can be found at . Benedetti adds, 鈥淓ven if you鈥檝e tried in the past, you may now qualify for the new Medicaid coverage plan.鈥�