Thrive Allen County recently received a major award from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to increase healthcare coverage for children, families, and pregnant individuals. The grant is expected to provide $1,499,999 over a three-year period.

The Connecting Kids to Coverage Grant will support outreach and assistance for enrolling children, families, and pregnant individuals in Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). According to CMS, “Of America’s 4 million uninsured children, studies show that 2.3 million are eligible for Medicaid and CHIP. However, many of their families either do not know they are eligible or struggle with enrollment.” Thrive was one of thirty-six grantees across the nation funded through the Helping Ensure Access for Little Ones, Toddlers, and Hopeful Youth by Keeping Insurance Delivery Stable (HEALTHY KIDS) Act of 2017. Thrive applied for the grant with assistance from the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund.

Since 2013, Thrive has offered enrollment assistance services to Allen County residents for Marketplace insurance and other health and safety net services through its Coordinating and Assisting Reliable Enrollment Services (CARES) program. Thrive’s Care Coordinators are crucial fixtures in the community health ecosystem, providing a personal connection to those in need. They were instrumental in lowering Allen County’s uninsured rate from 21% in 2013 to under 9% in 2018. Since 2021, Thrive has partnered with agencies across Kansas to bring these services statewide. The Kansas CARES program provides Navigator health insurance enrollment services to underserved communities, focusing on rural and diverse populations.

Thrive Allen County has contracted with six agencies across Kansas to bring the Connecting Kids to Coverage grant to communities throughout the state. The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Community Health Council of Wyandotte County, Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition, Liberal Area Coalition of Families, LiveWell Northwest Kansas, and Project Access will work across 64 Kansas counties.

Says Thrive President and CEO Lisse Regehr, “We are honored Thrive and our partners have the opportunity to do this critical work. Children are our future, and healthy families are the foundation of a healthy community.”