State Health Access program awards grants to States help them expand access to affordable healthcare coverage for people who are uninsured. The State Health Access Program was authorized by the Omnibus Appropriations Act, P.L. 111-8 , signed by the President on March 11, 2009.
States may take a number of approaches, including
- Three share (employer, State or local government, and the individual) community coverage
- Reinsurance plans that subsidize a certain share of carrier losses within a certain risk corridor
- Subsidized high risk insurance pools
- Health insurance premium assistance
- State insurance connector authority that develops new, less expensive, portable benefit packages for small employers and part-time and seasonal workers
- Statewide or automated enrollment systems for public assistance programs
- Innovative strategies to insure low-income childless adults
Grants are made for one year and may be extended to four additional years, based on the availability of funds.
Program details (including guidance from most recent funding opportunity)
Each State submits an annual report to the Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services assessing the State's use of funds and describing progress in meeting project goals. A final report at the end of the grant period includes accomplishments and a plan for future public education about and enrollment in the health care coverage expansion.
Grantees
Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing ($7,884,801)
Kansas Health Policy Authority ($7,595,046)
Maine Dirigo Health Agency ($6,844,470)
Minnesota State Dept of Human Services ($5,123,389)
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services/Office of Rural Health and Community Care ($3,220,927)
Nevada Department of Health and Human Services ($3,220,927)
New York State Department of Health/Health Research, Inc. ($5,101,829)
State of Oregon ($13,429,909)
Texas Health & Human Services Commission ($8,052,318)
Virginia State Department of Health ($2,395,564)
State of Washington ($3,232,269)
West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources ($5,108,310)
Wisconsin Department of Health Services ($8,294,088)
