HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration will distribute more than $2.5 million to fund efforts to educate and enroll uninsured people living in rural areas in new health insurance coverage options under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today.
Rural health organizations across the country, including universities, local and critical hospitals and other rural non-profit or public organizations, will receive $25,000 each to help them educate people in their communities about the benefits available to them, eligibility requirements and options in the new state health insurance marketplaces.
Additionally, the Department of Agriculture is aiding with outreach efforts through the Cooperative Extension Service, according to a press release. Using funding from CMS, the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture is collaborating with the University of Georgia to create a network of educators to help the uninsured and underinsured understand the marketplaces. Under the $1.25 million inter-agency agreement, the university will coordinate outreach efforts in 12 states.
The state marketplaces will open for enrollment Oct. 1.
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