As Howard health officials roll out a plan to extend health care access, they will closely monitor whether the message is getting out and having an impact on the county?s uninsured residents.
Howard?s Health Department will collect demographics to see how many people are being served through the program, details of which will be unveiled today.
But an overall review of how the program is affecting health care is a tougher task.
“The evaluation of whether people are using hospitals and [emergency rooms] less or if their health is better ? that is a much more complicated thing,” said Dr. Peter Beilenson, Howard?s health officer.
For that evaluation, the department will partner with Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health. More details on that partnership will be discussed at the announcement, Beilenson said.
The goal is to reach about 10,000 uninsured adults between the ages of 19 and 64.
To see whether the plan is reaching this goal, officials will rely on the HealthStat program, under which bureaus input data and review changes, looking for trends and outcomes.
Outside the health department ? and even the county ? officials also will watch the program, which has been called “a model,” “precedent-setting” and “a bold new idea.”
“I think it has enormous potential” to work for other counties and cities nationwide, said U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., who met with County Executive Ken Ulmanand Beilenson last week about the plan.
“There will be a very strong evaluation, so we can have lessons learned and come up with best practices,” said Mikulski, who lauded the county?s leadership on a program to reach those who are uninsured.
Howard can provide that information to other jurisdictions or state and federal government as they tackle the growing need for health care access, she said.
AT A GLANCE
Howard officials have unveiled initiatives leading up to today?s announcement. Officials plan to:
» Send letters home with children detailing a state health program for which they may be eligible and how to provide information for health officials.
» Use state income tax records to identify those who may qualify for affordable health care.
» Partner with Kaiser Permanente to give low-cost health insurance to 175 county residents for two years.
