October 1st marked the first day of a three month process to get Maryland’s most vulnerable neighbors enrolled in health care benefits taking effect January 1, 2014. Currently, the majority of people receiving care at the HCH clinic in Baltimore and service sites around the state (75%), don’t have health insurance. But if outreach and enrollment efforts are successful, that number will be turned on its head thanks to “Obamacare” and Maryland’s Medicaid expansion.
To mark the occasion, HCH hosted a client education session and press conference in the morning, and a community meeting in the evening – all focused on how Medicaid expansion will impact people experiencing homelessness. The press conference featured leaders and advocates for health care reform, including Congressman John Sarbanes, State Senator Verna Jones-Rodwell, Delegate Mary Washington, Vincent Demarco of the Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative, Carmella Coyle of the Maryland Hospital Association, Kathleen Westcoat of HealthCare Access Maryland, other community partners, medical providers, and Tony Simmons, who is currently homeless and a member of B’more Housing for All – who reminded that beyond Exchanges, Connectors, websites, and applications, October 1st is about “us.”
In the evening, the HCH Annual Community meeting featured a panel discussion, moderated by Sheila Kast of WYPR. Panelists included HCH President & CEO Kevin Lindamood; HealthCare Access Maryland President & CEO Kathleen Westcoat; and Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) Deputy Secretary Charles Milligan. The event drew more than 150 HCH supporters, both homeless and housed.
Capping the night, HCH Board Chair, Linda Jones recognized the dedication and thoughtful approach taken by state officials and DHMH as well as the incredible service of Board Member M. Catherine Kelly, CNRP, from Mercy Medical Center. Cathie served the organization since it’s inception and was part of the coalition that made possible the establishment of HCH as a research project in 1985 and an independent nonprofit organization in 1987.
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Kevin Lindamood and Sascha Hurwitz
Linda Jones and Kevin Lindamood also honored HCH’s youngest philanthropist Sascha Hurwitz. In April of this year, Sascha donated the full contents of her charity box ($12.09) to HCH after seeing a man sleeping in the parking lot across the street from our clinic while visiting the Sunday market. Kevin matched her gift and encouraged others to do so. To date 180 donors have “matched” Sascha’s $12.09 raising nearly $6,000 to support the work of HCH. (You can still match her gift by clicking here).
While October 1st indeed marked an historic step toward greater access to health care, Kevin Lindamood notes, “Increasing access to health benefits alone isn’t enough. Our ultimate goal of ending homelessness requires that everyone have access to comprehensive health care, livable incomes, and affordable housing.” Thank you for working with us towards this goal.
Click here to enroll in the Maryland health exchange or Medicaid (the Maryland Health Connection).
