By Joe Touschner

Implementation of the Affordable Care Act continues: Today, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced about $30 million in grants to states to fund consumer assistance activities.  The grants will support efforts to aid consumers in navigating health insurance, whether it is finding affordable coverage, dealing with a disputed claim denial, or applying the new protections included in the health reform law.  These services will both help consumers get the benefits to which they are entitled and help monitor the problems that Americans face in getting and using health insurance.  Find a summary of each grantee state’s plans for the funds here.

A few states already maintain offices to assist consumers in these matters–this infusion of federal support will greatly enhance capacity across all the states that received grants and boost the number of consumers who can access their services. Most grants went to states’ insurance regulators or attorneys general.  In about half the grantee states, funds will be shared with non-profit organizations to better reach consumers in need of assistance. 

Whether public or non-profit, all of the grantees are likely to come across many children and some adults who are eligible for public programs.  An integral part of consumer assistance should be a referral to Medicaid or CHIP for all those who might be eligible.  By making these referrals, the consumer assistance grantees can do their part to support the Connecting Kids to Coverage Challenge   For more on best practices for consumer assistance programs, see this Community Catalyst report.

In addition to helping consumers, the grantees will serve another important role–they will collect data on the issues that consumers face in dealing with health insurers.  While HHS has not yet decided how it will share this information, it will be an important resource for tracking how the insurance market is working for families.  

The grants went to each of the 35 states that applied, as well as to DC and 4 territories. Of course, that leaves 15 states that did not apply for the funds.  For consumers in states that did not apply, HHS’s Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight will field consumer complaints.