by Kelli Larsen, director of strategic initiatives, Plymouth Housing Group

 

You have undoubtedly heard about the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as health care reform or Obamacare. Perhaps you have absorbed just a little news coverage on the topic or even considered some of the new insurance options for yourself or your loved ones.

Plymouth is also considering the impact of the ACA for those at the heart of our mission: our residents.

The primary insurance program that will make a difference for our residents is the Medicaid program. Prior to the implementation of the ACA, Medicaid was only available to those adults with disabilities living in our buildings.

Starting January 1, 2014, the ACA will enable Washington State to expand Medicaid eligibility to include all adults based exclusively on income (the annual income limit is approximately $15,800 for a single adult in Seattle).

It is expected that this expansion of Medicaid will provide real health benefits to people who are homeless and formerly homeless.

Plymouth staff members have already begun work to enroll our residents who are not currently insured. This work includes coursework and certification to be able to assist people with enrollment – as well as outreach and engagement to provide education and enroll people in Medicaid.

We expect between 200 and 250 or our residents to be eligible for this new Medicaid benefit.

In addition to providing health insurance for those in our community who need it most, the ACA may offer benefits to agencies such as Plymouth. That’s because permanent housing with support services greatly decreases the use of emergency rooms and other expensive health care systems.

The ACA provides opportunity for significant innovation in our state to implement new service delivery and financing strategies in service of improved health outcomes, higher quality care, and lower costs. This is entirely in keeping with Plymouth’s belief that permanent supportive housing saves lives and dollars.

There is increasing momentum building around the idea of incorporating the resources of the ACA into projects that provide services and housing to people who are struggling with medical, mental health, and chemical dependency issues. Plymouth will continue to engage in this work on behalf of our residents.

 

For more information…

The Committee to End Homelessness and the King County Department of Community and Human Services commissioned the Corporation for Supportive Housing to study the possibilities for incorporating ACA services and funding in supportive housing.

 

Click on the titles below to access the papers:

Business Case for a Supportive Housing Services Benefit in Washington State

Integrating Supportive Housing and Health Care in King County and Washington State