Jacksonville, FL – The Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida (HPCNEF) is pleased to announce that as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s continued investment in health care coverage and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), it will receive a portion of a $13.8 million grant awarded to the University of South Florida and Florida Covering Kids & Families (FL-CKF) by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This funding will support the Navigator program in Florida, providing vital assistance to underserved and vulnerable populations in finding and enrolling in affordable health care coverage through HealthCare.gov.
This funding is part of a broader $100 million national investment by CMS to 44 Navigator grantees in states utilizing HealthCare.gov, marking the largest grant period and financial commitment to date. These grants, covering the next five years, are designed to empower local organizations like HPCNEF, ensuring that individuals facing barriers to health care coverage receive the targeted support they need.
Navigators play a crucial role year-round, offering outreach, education, and ongoing support to consumers, particularly those from priority populations affected by social determinants of health (SDOH). These include factors such as housing instability, food insecurity, and geographic location, all of which can profoundly affect health outcomes and access to care.
The performance period for this grant runs from August 27, 2024, to August 26, 2029. During this time, HPCNEF, as a subawardee, will continue to provide essential services to improve health care access in historically disenfranchised communities across Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, St. Johns, and Volusia counties. To make an appointment for free local help from a federally certified Navigator, please call (866) 295-5955 or visit www.123covered.org.
About Us
Created in 1982, the Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida, Inc. (HPCNEF) is one of 11 local health councils mandated by Florida State Statute 408.033. Our purpose is to dedicate resources and expertise to regional health utilization data management, health planning and research, community organizing, health promotion, and awareness programs in a seven-county region of Northeast Florida. HPCNEF is guided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP)’s Healthy People Initiative, and the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). For more information, contact us at (904) 448-4300 or visit hpcnef.org.
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