全球智库信息集成服务系统

Through an Incident Command System–Based Model, the Houston Department of Health and Human Services Contributes to Outreach and Enrollment Efforts

• The department leverages its reputation in the community to gain quick buy-in for a coordinated strategy, provides a strength-based framework for response, and coordinates the efforts of the Gulf Coast Health Insurance Marketplace Collaborative.

Outreach and Enrollment Efforts Face Challenges

• The notices of award and timelines for funding differed from partner to partner.
• The collaborative does not always have access to accurate and timely data from state and federal agencies, which makes it difficult to ensure accuracy when determining areas of highest need.
• Some people will remain uninsured because they know that the hospital will provide comprehensive care at a cost that is lower than insurance premiums or potential tax penalties. Because Texas did not expand Medicaid, insurance is still relatively expensive for those who did not qualify for subsidies in the marketplace.

Some Factors Help Those Efforts

• Because many public health– and health care–oriented partners in Houston have long histories of collaboration and a commitment to ensuring access to health care for all residents, the concept of using an incident command system to maximize resources and reach a shared goal has been readily accepted. Likewise, partnerships with grassroots organizations are essential in encouraging people to enroll, particularly in a state that strongly values individual autonomy and in which many residents mistrust the government.