Establishing a Consumer Health Assistance Program in Your Community
Consumer health assistance programs provide valuable services to people who have questions about health insurance (such as Medicaid or private insurance) or who are having trouble getting access to health care.
The resources listed below may be particularly helpful if you are thinking about establishing such a program in your state. You can also talk to your state legislators and other local policy makers about the need for such a program and let them know that this Web site includes several publications that discuss key elements to keep in mind when creating a program. In addition, Families USA staff can assist you with establishing a program in your community. Contact us at info@familiesusa.org. To see the Senate health reform bill's provision on consumer health assistance programs, click here.
From Families USA:
Designing a Consumer Health Assistance Program (2010 update)
Locating a Consumer Health Assistance Program
Consumer Health Assistance Programs: Report on a National Survey
Collecting and Using Data: How Consumer Health Assistance Programs Report on Their Work
Consumer Health Assistance Programs: A Model Act for Legislators and Advocates
Assistance for Health Care Consumers: Key Provisions of State Laws (a companion piece to the model law)
Consumer Health Assistance Programs: Bridging Gaps in the Health Care System
From the Center for Health Care Rights with the Kaiser Family Foundation:
From Concept to Operation: A Guide to Developing Assistance Programs for Health Care Consumers
Already Have a Consumer Health Assistance Program?
You may find these resources from Families USA useful in helping consumers:
