182270 Developing a strategy for health coverage for the working uninsured

Monday, October 27, 2008: 2:30 PM

Monica L. Wendel, DrPH, MA , Center for Community Health Development, School of Rural Public Health, College Station, TX
Angela Alaniz, BA , Center for Community Health Development, School of Rural Public Health, College Station, TX
Keith Perkins, BS , Center for Community Health Development, School of Rural Public Health, College Station, TX
Shawta Sackett, BSN , Center for Community Health Development, School of Rural Public Health, College Station, TX
Crystal Crowell, MPH , Health Services, Brazos Valley Council of Governments, Bryan, TX
Laura M. Windwehen, MPH , Center for Community Health Development, School of Rural Public Health, College Station, TX
The population of working uninsured continues to grow in the U.S. As the cost of health care and health insurance rise, the proportion of employers who are dropping health benefits also rises. In the Brazos Valley—a seven-county, mostly rural region of Central Texas—many of the key stakeholders in the health and human service delivery system have realized that the solution to access for the working uninsured is going to have to be local. Commissioned by the local United Way, a feasibility study was conducted in Spring 2008 to assess the likelihood of success for implementing a multi-share model of health coverage. In this type of model, a coverage product is developed and marketed to businesses and their employees in a system where the costs are shared by the employee, employer, service provider, and other community sources. One of four communities funded by the Texas Health and Human Service Commission to pilot test this model, the Brazos Valley is unique in that its region is primarily rural and its catchment area is truly regional. Issues related to project development and sustainability will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:
By the end of the session, participants should be able to: Discuss a variety of strategies for improving access to care for rural populations; Describe a multi-share coverage strategy for the working uninsured; Apply capacity-building principles to assessment of community-based public health strategies

Keywords: Access, Underserved Populations

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have conducted extensive research, chaired the committee to develop the feasibility study, and written the proposal and plan for implementing this project.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.