Panelists from the Outreach & Enrollment Panel at the Bronx/Manhattan Summit from left to right: Alecia Willie, Harlem Hospital Center; Starr Morris, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center (center back); Linda Ricci, Greater NYC for Change and Get Covered New York (center front); and Flor Ramirez, Community Service Society of New York

Guest post by Jessie Kavanagh, Intern at Community Service Society of New York

On September 9, HCFANY co-hosted the first of 7 Regional Outreach and Enrollment Summits for the second Open Enrollment period, which runs November 15, 2014 – February 15, 2015. The Bronx/Manhattan Summit was held in West Harlem at the Interchurch Center. HCFANY partnered with the Healthcare Education Project (SEIU 1199), Community Health Care Association of New York State (CHCANYS) and several other organizations to launch this next round of Summits (building from the success of last year’s).

The summit was a huge success! About 150 Navigators, Certified Application Counselors (CACs), consumer advocates, and staff from community health centers and health insurance companies were in attendance. Attendees had the chance to learn, and also to strengthen relationships with other stakeholders who together want to enroll as many New Yorkers as possible.

Donna Frescatore, Executive Director of NY State of Health, addresses Bronx/Manhattan Summit attendees.

The morning opened with a presentation from Donna Frescatore, Executive Director of the NY State of Health Marketplace. Ms. Frescatore gave details on what to expect from the Marketplace for this upcoming enrollment period, including:

• A Spanish NYSOH website;
• An event calendar showing where to find enrollment assistance; and
• New consumer education and outreach materials.

Ms. Frescatore also highlighted newly available enrollment data broken down by County, available here.

Next, a panel of outreach and enrollment professionals moderated by our own Mark Hannay (Metro New York Health Care for All Campaign) discussed successes and lessons learned from the first enrollment period and new outreach strategies for year 2. Panelists included:

• Starr Morris, Manager of Insurance Navigation, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center
• Flor Ramirez, Health Counselor, Community Service Society of New York
• Linda Ricci, Volunteer Project Coordinator, Greater NYC for Change and Get Covered New York co-coordinator
• Alecia Willie, Senior Hospital Care Investigator, Harlem Hospital Center

Last, but not least, attendees participated in vibrant small group discussions on outreach and enrollment to share lessons, and to form partnerships and plans for the months ahead.

Find out about upcoming summits in your community, and learn how to register, from our recent blog post.

This event series is being held in cooperation with New York State of Health, www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov