A new report released by the New York State Health Foundation (NYSHealth) looks at the different roles laid out for Navigators and Consumer Assistance Programs (CAPs) under the ACA, and how they can work together to maximize consumer assistance efforts and avoid duplication.

As many of you already know, the ACA granted money to the states to create CAPs shortly after passage of the law.  In New York, this funding was used to establish Community Health Advocates (CHA) as our statewide CAP. CHA is currently available to offer health care consumer assistance to all New Yorkers, free of charge. 

The ACA also calls for the creation of another consumer assistance entity, called Navigators, come 2014.   But, it’s not entirely clear at this point how the two programs will interplay.

This new NYSHealth report, developed by fellow HCFANY members Empire Justice Center and the Community Service Society, presents recommendations (developed after discussions with nearly 250 stakeholders) on how these two programs can be structured to best serve New Yorkers.  It’s worth a read!

Click here to read the new report, titled “Connecting Consumers to Coverage: The Role of Navigators and Consumer Assistance Programs in Implementing Health Reform in New York.”