Online Program

Oral

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) presents new opportunities for health education specialists to broaden their impact and participate in various new models of service delivery geared toward primary prevention and chronic disease management. New models of reimbursement and service delivery call for health educators’ skills in coordinating and integrating care for the “whole person”; assisting in navigating the health care system; conducting community needs assessments; building bridges between patients and health/medical care organizations that are required to have patient engagement and feedback; identifying structural barriers to care, and; designing culturally competent and patient-centered programs to improve health outcomes. In October 2013, states will open the enrollment process. Experience suggests that enrolling tens of millions of uninsured individuals in the health system – and helping them stay enrolled - will present significant challenges with an enormous potential for an “enrollment gap”. Health education practitioners, students, and faculty must seize this rapidly unfolding opportunity to participate in their health insurance exchanges and fully utilize their health education skills. This session will provide an update on the major federal initiatives to support the open enrollment process; present plans and resources from major organizations providing assistance in consumer enrollment; and describe roles of health education specialists and community health workers as navigators in helping to eliminate health disparities, and ultimately achieve a healthier America.

Session Objectives: Describe the federal framework and timeline for implementing ACA regulations related to the open enrollment process for the uninsured. Describe plans and resources to become involved in their states and local communities in assisting in the enrollment process. Identify various pathways for health education specialists to find employment opportunities and market their skills as patient navigators. Describe lessons learned from Community Health Workers in Massachusetts who worked to enroll individuals after the state passed its health insurance mandate in 2006.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)