Page 14 - SFHN1218pagesFINALSP.qxp_Page layout

AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA

Proposed Changes to Immigration “Public Charge”

Determinations Could Impact Health of 2.1 Million Floridians

The U.S. Department of source of support. income subsidy, Section 8, or Medicaid providers who treat them especially vul-
Homeland Security’s (DHS) Current rules consider a may now fear losing the chance to remain nerable to impacts of the policy change.
60-day comment period on limited group of benefits, in the United States. Yet, not applying The federal government has also acknowl-
the proposed immigration specifically the accept- deprives them of these life sustaining ben- edged, in the preamble to the proposed
rule “Inadmissibility on ance of cash benefits like efits. rule, the policy change may result in
Public Charge Grounds” to Social Security Supple - Department of Homeland Security esti- increased poverty for families and chil-
expand the range of health- mental Security Income mates 382,000 immigrants yearly will be dren, and decreased revenues for health
related programs that can be (SSI) or Temporary directly impacted by the rule change. But it care providers, pharmacies, grocery retail-
designated “public charge” Assistance for Needy is the incidental impact of the rule that ers, and agriculture producers.
ends December 10, 2018. As Families (TANF), and stands to harm the health of 2.1 million Health Foundation of South Florida is
the proposed policy change is institutionalization for Floridians. Regardless of immigration sta- committed to working with partners to
inconsistent with the values long-term care paid for by tus, fear and confusion will lead many to inform Floridians about what they can do
of Health Foundation of BY STEVEN E. MARCUS, Medicaid as triggers for withdraw from benefits to which they have to protect health-related benefits for their
South Florida, we have been ED.D. public charge designa- a legal right. According to Miriam patients, their families and their neigh-
working with community tions. The rule change Harmatz, Co-Executive Director of the bors. The Foundation urges organizations
partners to ensure voices are proposed by the Depart - Florida Health Justice Project, a grantee of and individuals to take a stand for public
heard in opposition to the proposed rule. ment of Homeland Security would signifi- Health Foundation of South Florida, “The health and against changes to the current
Public charge determinations are used cantly expand the way the rule is applied chilling effect will result in Florida’s fami- public charge rule. Comments related to
by federal immigration authorities to and the number of benefits considered. lies and children being poorer and sicker.” “Inadmissibility on Public Charge
decide whether to allow legal entry into The proposed rule threatens the health Florida Health Justice Project estimates Grounds” can be submitted at regula-
the United States, in most cases applying of more than two million Floridians by the chilling effect in Florida will result in tions.gov. The deadline is December 10,
to immigrants’ applications for lawful per- impacting access to basic nutrition, med- up to 150,000 U.S. citizen children drop- but the impact will be everlasting.
manent residence and also to certain visa ical, and housing benefits for themselves ping Medicaid and CHIP, and up to 85,000
adjustments. Since the 1990s, the term and their families. In the proposed rule losing food assistance, despite remaining Steven Marcus, President and CEO, Health
“public charge” has been narrowly inter- change, parents and individuals who apply legally eligible. Half of those children live Foundation of South Florida,
preted and only applies to immigrants who for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance in Miami-Dade County, making South can be reached at (305) 374-7200
rely on the government as their main Program (SNAP), Medicare Part D low- Florida families and the health care or visitwww.hfsf.org.

Cover Story: A Talk with Community Care Plan President and CEO

Continued from page 1
health visits. Real time information also Because the organization grew out of ious health plan initiatives. Lerner
patients are with preventive health guide- gives us leverage to connect with partners Memorial Healthcare and Broward Health received a bachelor’s degree in marketing
lines. and clear obstacles or solve problems that Systems, many employees were already and management from Florida
“If you are homeless or wondering how may be barriers to health care access,” rooted in the mission … to positively International University’s College of
you are going to feed your children Lerner said. impact the health and welfare of the com- Business, and a Master of Health Care
tonight, your primary focus is not going to According to Lerner, the immediacy of munity. Administration Degree from Florida
be on getting a mammography or visiting technology increases efficiency, controls Examples of going the extra mile Atlantic University. She also serves on the
your primary care physician,” Lerner costs in the long term, and contributes to abound. Another employee took extraor- Board of Trustbridge Hospice Foundation
explained. “Accordingly, our case workers healthy lifestyles. The physical location of dinary measures to ensure that a child and the Association of Community
reach out to food pantries, and social serv- call center, case workers and all employees with significant medical complexities Affiliated Plans. Future plans are to share
ice agencies to collaborate on assisting under one roof, also gives a jump start on could spend the Christmas holidays at CCP’s unique experiential knowledge and
members with food, shelter, transportation identifying barriers and providing solu- home with family. That meant the case culture with colleagues to expand the foot-
or rent issues.” tions before a serious health crisis. worker coordinated with home health print of care to benefit members.
Obviously, when a parent’s health deteri- “We eliminate bureaucracy by having aides, the skilled nursing facility, trans- Community Care Plan, the health plan
orates, it can set off a family domino effect decision-makers on hand to keep us agile portation specialists, and the parents to be with a heart, serves members enrolled in
that this community collaboration aims to and supportive to our members,” Lerner certain that all health needs were consid- Medicaid, Children’s Medical Services
head off. said. ered. In fact, she even made a personal Network, and self-insured employee
Technology has enabled CCP to be agile For example, our social work staff Christmas Eve visit to confirm that the health plans. Headquartered in Sunrise,
and efficient in meeting health care needs recently intervened to address a holiday stay would be without any medical Florida, Community Care Plan is a part-
before members end up in an emergency suicidal/homicidal concern during a rou- incidents. nership owned by Broward Health and
room in crisis mode. Within one business tine follow-up call to a member to discuss “That’s truly the essence of our mis- Memorial Healthcare System. Plans offer
day of joining, each new CCP member is resources recently provided to help the sion,” Lerner said. an excellent choice of physicians who
contacted by the Call Center Concierge to financial needs of her family. During the Lerner has been associated with CCP cover a wide range of health and medical
describe member benefits and how to nav- call, the member revealed that she was since its inception in 2000 as the first safe- services, and a variety of benefits that help
igate access to them. This initial phone having suicidal/homicidal thoughts due to ty-net, hospital-owned Provider Service enrollees get and stay healthy. The non-
conversation also establishes a health pro- increased financial pressure and worry Network (PSN). She played a major role in profit organization is fully accredited by
file outlining their current and potential about her grandmother’s health issues. CCP operations and was promoted to the Accreditation Association for
needs The social worker immediately dialed 911 Executive Vice President and Chief Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) as a
“From the moment a member joins we to send assistance during that encounter to Operating Officer in 2016. Prior to joining Health Plan.
start compiling their health profile in our avert a tragedy, while another social work- CCP, Lerner served as Executive Director
proprietary enterprise data warehouse. er kept the member engaged on the tele- for Memorial Integrated Health for more For more information, visit
This allows us real time access to target phone until help arrived. than 19 years, where she spearheaded var- www.CCPcares.org or
and monitor preventive and therapeutic
email jlerner@ccpcares.org.

14 December 2018 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News