CMS Announces Opportunity to Apply for Marketplace Navigator Grants

April 11, 2013 • 0 comments • By AIDS.gov
Cross-posted from CMS Newsroom

“Navigator” program will help consumers understand new coverage options as they enroll in new Marketplaces

Editor’s Note: Yesterday, CMS released the Navigators Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) below. “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.¹ We are sharing this with our AIDS.gov readers for two reasons. First, Navigators will be important resources to people living with HIV/AIDS, assisting them in making choices about their health care options and accessing their new health care coverage, including access to premium tax credits for some consumers.²
Second, in light of the important role that Navigators will play in helping PLWH examine new insurance options and insurance affordability programs³ that will become available in 2014, individuals and public and private entities with a history of serving PLWH may wish to assess the funding opportunity described below as part of their efforts to help increase healthcare access for underserved, vulnerable, and hard-to-reach populations at risk for or living with HIV in their communities.

[On April 9, 2013] the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the availability of new funding 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.
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, 2013. (Read a fact sheet about the Navigator FOA.)
Last week, CMS released a proposed rule outlining standards for Navigators in Federally-facilitated and State Partnership Marketplaces.
To access the funding opportunity announcement, visit: http://www.grants.gov, and search for CFDA # 93.750.
To access the proposed rule released April 3, 2013, visit: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-04-05/pdf/2013-07951.pdf [PDF 285KB]
For more information about Navigators, including continuing updates, visit: http://cciio.cms.gov/programs/exchanges/assistance.html

1. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, “CMS Announces Opportunity to Apply for Marketplace Navigator Grants” [Press Release] Retrieved from http://www.cms.gov/apps/media/press/release.asp?Counter=4576&intNumPerPage=10&checkDate=&checkKey=&srchType=1&numDays=3500&srchOpt=0&srchData=&keywordType=All&chkNewsType=1%2C+2%2C+3%2C+4%2C+5&intPage=&showAll=&pYear=&year=&desc=&cboOrder=date

2. Healthcare.gov. Affordable Insurance Exchanges: More Choices, Competition and Clout. Retrieved April 10, 2013, from http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2011/07/exchanges07112011b.html

3. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. In-Person Assistance. Retrieved April 10, 2013 from http://cciio.cms.gov/programs/exchanges/assistance.html