CMS announces grant funding to support Navigators

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has new funding available to support Navigators in federally facilitated and state partnership marketplaces. Navigators are individuals and entities that will provide unbiased information to consumers about health insurance, the new Health Insurance Marketplace, qualified health plans and public programs, including Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

“Navigators will be an important resource for the millions of Americans who are eligible to enroll in new coverage opportunities through the marketplace starting in October of 2013,” said CMS Acting Administrator Marilyn Tavenner in a release.

The funding opportunity announcement is open to eligible self-employed individuals and private and public entities applying to serve as Navigators in states with a federally facilitated or state partnership marketplace. The new funding opportunity provides up to $54 million in total funding and applications are due by June 7.

Last week, CMS released a proposed rule outlining standards for Navigators in federally facilitated and state partnership marketplaces.

Beth Walsh,

Editor

Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.

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