Uninsured Howard residents enrolled in the county?s health care access plan will be paired with a coach who will guide the patient on how to get healthy.
“We hope by keeping people healthy, we can keep them [out of] the hospital,” said Dr. Peter Beilenson, Howard?s health officer.
The health coaches, who will be hired health care professionals, will help the participants create an action plan for healthy living, such as enrolling in smoking cessation classes or learning how to prepare a low-fat meal.
The health coach is one piece of the county?s Healthy Howard Plan, which aims to expand health care access to about 10,000 uninsured residents.
County officials also plan to rely on existing discount programs and several community partnerships to provide greatly reduced health care.
“We are filling the gap that has been left by the federal system,” County Executive Ken Ulman said at the announcement of the program Tuesday at Howard Community College.
For a low monthly fee, participants will get low-cost prescription drugs and visits to a primary-care doctor at Chase Brexton Health Services in Columbia. They also can receive specialty services, such as cancer treatments, through an existing program, Beilenson said.
“This is not insurance,” he said, adding it?s not as comprehensive or portable as insurance coverage.
Howard County General Hospital has agreed to forgive the debt for patients enrolled in the program who make up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level, or $30,620 for an individual, meaning low-income residents won?t have to pay for hospital care, said Victor Broccolino, president and CEO of the hospital.
The hospital forgives debt for those making 150 percent of the federal poverty level, costing the hospital between $6 million and $10 million a year, Broccolino said.
He said he doesn?t know how much it will cost the hospital to extend that relief to more residents, but with an increased focus on healthy living and preventative care, he expects a drop in hospital visits by those who are uninsured.
The Healthy Howard Plan will cost about $2.8 million for the first year, during which officials aim to enroll 2,000 residents, Beilenson said. More than half of that cost will come from patients? monthly fees, and the county plans to spend $500,000 on the effort.
The rest of the funding will come from nonprofit and individual contributions, including the first donation of $1,000 from Del. Shane Pendergrass, D-District 13, who presented a check at the announcement.
“I hope that I will send a message,” she said.
AT A GLANCE
Residents who have lived in Howard and been uninsured for at least one year are eligible for the program. They also must make less than 300 percent of the federal poverty level, or $30,620 for an individual.
For between $50 and $85 a month, depending on income, an individual will receive six visits to a physician at Chase Brexton in Columbia. Women will receive an additional visit for a gynecology exam.
Patients also will receive specialty care through private physicians for a reduced cost.
Up to 200 participants will receive free psychiatric care from Pro Bono Counseling of Maryland.
After a series of public meetings and enrollment period, the program will begin July 1.
