Consumer Voices for Coverage: Strengthening State Advocacy Networks to Expand Health Coverage

The Foundation's program, Consumer Voices for Coverage: Strengthening State Advocacy Networks to Expand Health Coverage, was designed to support state-based consumer health advocacy networks to increase their capacity to participate in health care reform efforts with key stakeholders, such as businesses, hospitals, insurers, providers and government officials.This grant will be one of ten in the the Foundation's Coverage Team's target states that will support consumer organizations to work with their states to implement coverage provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). More specifically, Alabama Voices for Coverage will engage, equip and extend existing grassroots networks to: (1) promote the design, implementation and utilization of a consumer-friendly Alabama Health Insurance Exchange; and (2) strengthen Alabama Medicaid by protecting current coverage; promoting health care delivery reforms; building the case to allow Medicaid to expand to low-income adults without jeopardizing other vital human services; and promoting awareness of 2014 eligibility changes among potential enrollees. The project will use a combination of policy analysis and advocacy, coalition-building, community engagement and media outreach to: (1) develop a unified health care advocacy voice supporting key elements of ACA implementation, as described above; (2) secure two consumer representatives on the Alabama Health Insurance Exchange board; (3) secure strong provisions addressing conflict of interest in Exchange governance; (4) engage consumers in education, strategy and advocacy on project goals; and (5) generate a broad array of op-eds, letters and editorials promoting project goals. Alabama Voices for Coverage will be led by Arise Citizens' Policy Project, a 17-year-old, anti-poverty coalition of 150 congregations and groups with a reputation for effective community organizing equipped with solid policy analysis aimed at improving public policies affecting low and middle-income Alabamians. No Foundation funds will be used for the purposes of lobbying.

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Grant Details

Amount Awarded $250,000.00

Awarded on: 9/16/2011

Time frame: 10/1/2011 - 9/30/2012

Grant Number: 69429