The Salvation Army, MedNetOne and Partners Mobilize Medicaid Renewal on Bed & Bread Trucks
*Left to right: Ewa Matuszewski, MedNetOne CEO, Dr. Mike Genord, HAP President and CEO Nicole Hudson, Senior Advisor on Special Projects, MDHHS, Guy Gauthier, Vice President of State Markets, Priority Health, Heidi McGlinnen, Associate Vice President, Community Engagement, Molina Healthcare of Michigan, Yolanda R. Hill-Ashford, Director of Public Health Programs, Detroit Health Department Administration, Patricia Graham, President and CEO of Meridian, Jamie Winkler, Executive Director of The Salvation Army Harbor Light System
For Detroiters in need , maintaining consistent medical coverage is crucial. For this reason, The Salvation Army Harbor Light System is dedicated to ensuring they receive the care they need.
However, this year has presented a new challenge to fulfilling this mission: the redetermination of Medicaid coverage. Though paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has now resumed due to federal legislation and could leave one-third of Michigan Medicaid recipients without coverage.
“Losing Medicaid coverage will leave already at-risk individuals even more vulnerable,” said Harbor Light System Executive Director Jamie Winkler. “The Salvation Army Harbor Light System is a champion for individuals and families who often don’t get the health care services they need.”
To remedy this, during the week of October 23rd, The Salvation Army, MedNetOne and its partners brought support directly to metro Detroit’s vulnerable population. Teams of partner navigators were on-site via The Salvation Army Bed & Bread trucks to answer questions, provide guidance and assist people with completing their renewal paperwork.
The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit’s Bed & Bread program is unique in that it serves people via trucks that are mobile soup kitchens. Through this coordinated effort, this is the first time the program has expanded its services to include Medicaid renewal assistance.
“This week-long event is aimed at building awareness and offering practical assistance to ensure that eligible individuals continue to receive the vital healthcare benefits they deserve,” said Winkler.
*Jamie Winkler addresses the partners before they hit the road
“The Medicaid renewal program is an excellent example of how strong partners can collaborate to address the social determinant of health issues at the grass roots level,” said MedNetOne CEO and co-founder Ewa Matuszewski.
Partners involved included:
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
- Henry Ford Health
- HAP
- Authority Health
- Molina Health Care
- Priority Health
- Michigan Primary Care Association
- Meridian
*Ewa Matuszewski and Henry Ford Health employees
To kick off the week, The Salvation Army and its partners met at The Salvation Army Detroit Harbor Light before going out on the Bed & Bread truck route. Representatives of the partners expressed their commitment to helping remedy this growing issue.
“Through our work in the community Meridian has seen firsthand that Medicaid beneficiaries are not always aware of the redetermination process. We are excited to be a part of this amazing collaboration between area payers, Med Net One and the Salvation Army” said Patricia Graham, Meridian Plan President. “It’s by working together, collectively that we can make huge strides and ensure we help individuals and their families maintain their coverage.”
*Nicole Hudson, Senior Advisor on Special Projects, MDHHS and a MedNetOne health navigator assist a man with Medicaid sign-up
“This partnership with the Salvation Army brought support to some of our most vulnerable populations. We’re grateful to have been part of this event to make sure people don’t have a gap in health coverage,” said Guy Gauthier, Vice President of State Markets at Priority Health.
While these efforts will help metro Detroiters reapply for health insurance coverage, it will not be able determine whether they qualify or get reapproved. Despite this, The Salvation Army, MedNetOne and its partners are committed to doing all they can to help.
For more information on the renewal process, please visit Michigan.gov/MIBridges. To make a direct impact, donations and volunteers make a big difference to the people The Salvation Army serves.