Report From the HIX Executive Board Meeting (day one)

Good Evening everyone,

At todays meeting of the HIX Executive Board there was not Native American issues discussed, except for a about 10 minutes of the budget/request for level I establishment grant funding.  I was said that about 32 million of the original 34 million in the Level I establishment grant is still in there at HSD awaiting the creation of a MOU between HSD and HIA/HIX or for HIX to become a official licensed organization. NM can apply for any additional money quarterly for the development of the HIX as long as HIX can demonstrate the need for the additional Level 1 establishment grant funding.  So there is the May 15 Deadline for funding, but there will also be another opportunity to apply for more funding by August 15. 

The funding for the NASC is still in the budget and will be discussed at tomorrows meeting. 

Theresa Gomez our only NA Board member asked me to give her some idea of what we want in the NASC. I will give an Idea of what I would like to see and I invite everyone in the group to comment as well, please try to reply by 10AM tomorrow (April 30th) we are not sure exactly when the NASC or the creation of the NA Advisory board will be heard.

The NASC should:

• Include the 1.3 million that was set aside in the original Level one establishment grant.
• Have a Director, Liaison and three Navigators preferable fluent in at least one Native Language.
• Be a resource for Tribal Programs first, to educate/Train Tribal programs (CHR Benefits Coordinators, Senior Centers...)  how to operate as navigators/in-person assisters, or provide training to help Certify as navigators/in-person assisters, and instruct Tribal programs how to be reimbursed for providing Navigator/in-person assister Services.
• Help Tribal programs with issues of eligibility, health plan information, and program regulations.
• Be able to determine eligibility of NA individuals on a walk in basis for either Medicaid or HIX.
• Report to NA Advisory Board on  a quarterly basis.

The NA Advisory board should maintain as many of the Native American Work Group under the HIX Task force as possible to maintain continuity, but Navajo Nation Jicarilla and Mescalero as well as Northern and Southern Pueblos should be encourage to nominate a member as well to the Advisory board.  I imagine 11- 13 individuals in this Advisory board.

I also want to mention that one of the presenters, a man from Massachusetts, outlined the time table, scope of work and budget for creating that states exchange. 

• $25million and 60 employees to operate
• 14 months to complete and it s scope was less than what we envision for NM. meaning no SHOP component.
• he didn't think that we could have the Exchange that we want up and running earlier that Oct 2014.

Now on the other hand NM has done a lot of work previous to the actual creation of the exchange though the Health Insurance Alliance, Department of Insurance, and the Task Force effort, we are ahead of Massachusetts was when they started developing their exchange.
Please comment if I left anything out.

Erik Lujan

Volunteer Advocate/Policy Analyst

NMICoA Health Committee