Improving Access to Health Care Coverage in Rural Communities: November 9th

The “Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign invites you to attend “Improving Access to Health Care Coverage in Rural Communities with Medicaid and CHIP” on Thursday, November 9th from 2pm – 3pm EST. REGISTER HERE.

Having health coverage is important when it comes to staying healthy no matter where you live. Reaching children and families who are eligible for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) can be challenging, especially in rural areas across the country. Families living in rural communities face many barriers that can negatively impact their access to health care such as higher poverty rates, unemployment, and more. Getting these families enrolled in programs like Medicaid and CHIP can give children and teens a better chance at accessing the health care they need.

An estimated 13.4 million children under the age of 18 live in rural areas across the United States and kids in these communities are 24 percent more likely than those in urban areas to depend on Medicaid and CHIP for health coverage. Additionally, Medicaid and CHIP cover over 300,000 American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children nationwide, many of whom reside in rural areas, including on Indian reservations, and may be more likely to rely on Medicaid and CHIP for coverage than other children. We mark National Rural Health Day each November – this year, we are using the opportunity to host a webinar to discuss the importance of Medicaid and CHIP in rural communities now and year-round.

In this webinar, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services staff and partners will discuss important strategies, resources, and best practices for rural community outreach and enrollment and address health equity challenges in rural communities. Speakers will also discuss the importance of partnerships, provide actionable tools, and share materials from the Campaign’s rural health initiative to support outreach.

Webinar speakers:

  • Darci Graves, Technical Adviser, Office of Minority Health, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
  • Alexa McKinley, Regulatory Affairs Manager, National Rural Health Association
  • Hailey Gutzmer Office of Communications, Partner Relations Group, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
  • Beverly Lofton, Division of Tribal Affairs, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
  • Susan Karol, Chief Medical Officer, Division of Tribal Affairs, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
  • Porter Novelli Public Services, Outreach Contractor, Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign