As the third-year of open enrollment kicked off  nationwide Nov. 1 for the federal Health Insurance Marketplace, attention was once again on USF, which for the second consecutive year attracted the largest Navigator grant in the country.  This time Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and White House Special Assistant to the President Michael Smith toured the community outreach event hosted by USF Health navigators, observing firsthand students and families signing up for health care insurance.

Navigator Philip Conti of the Hillsborough County Division of Health Care Services speaks with Jodi Ray, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, and Michael Smith, special assistant to the President.

The “Nav-Lab” was set up in the USF Marshall Student Center and both Buckhorn and Smith were introduced to navigators and consumers by Jodi Ray, project director for the Florida Covering Kids & Families (FL-CKF) program at the Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies, USF College of Public Health.

The added attention stems from the fact that USF received a $5.9M 2016 Navigator grant, once again the country’s largest award, to help educate uninsured Floridians about the insurance plans that can best meet their health care and financial needs and assist those eligible with enrollment.  This year, the focus will be to help consumers understand how to get the most out of their coverage as well continue new enrollments and renewals, officials said.

After visiting the consumer Nav-Lab, Buckhorn and Smith joined other representatives from USF, Enroll America and a USF Health Morsani College of Medicine student, who is a local Marketplace consumer, for a press conference to talk about this year’s enrollment.

Michael Smith addresses local media at the USF Marshall Center.

Open Enrollment gives millions of uninsured Floridians the opportunity to enroll in health coverage for the calendar year of 2016. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), almost half of the remaining Marketplaces-eligible uninsured are between the ages of 18 and 34. Also, despite historic gains in coverage, Latinos and African Americans are still more likely to be uninsured than their white counterparts.

Because of these facts, this year’s push is keenly focused on that younger group and on minorities, Smith said.

“You could not talk about health care in this country without talking about serving what are some of our most vulnerable youth and communities,” Smith said.

“And we know that many uninsured and younger folks come from underserved communities. It’s going to be more challenging this year than it’s been in past years, with historic gains in coverage and an improving economy, there are just fewer uninsured to enroll. Ultimately, though, having fewer uninsured is a good problem to have, but means we’re going to have to work smarter and harder.”

In introductory remarks, Edmund Funai, MD, vice president and chief operating officer for USF Health, noted the parallels that today’s USF community event has with USF’s overall mission.

USF Health Chief Operating Officer Dr. Ed Funai.

“Our mission, as a large, public research institution serving one of America’s largest metropolitan areas, requires us to be an economic engine and a trusted resource for our region, our state, the nation, and the world,” Dr. Funai said. “The program we are here to highlight today is a perfect example of the way in which we carry out that mission at USF each day. We could not be prouder of the tremendous talent and dedication of the (USF Navigator) grant’s lead investigator Jodi Ray and her team at the USF Florida Covering Kids & Families program. They work with partners across the state to assist Floridians in making informed choices about the health care insurance coverage that best meets the needs of themselves and their families.”

Tampa Mayor Buckhorn congratulated USF on receiving the country’s largest Navigator grant and emphasized how well the Marketplace is working to reduce the number of uninsured citizens in Tampa and across Florida.

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn.

“You have seen the amazing results from the last two enrollments,” Buckhorn said. “Over a 1.7 million Floridians have signed up to get access to health care. I can tell you as a mayor that there’s probably not anything more important than the citizens I represent having affordable access to health care. It makes such an amazing difference in the quality of their lives. In Hillsborough County, over 77,000 citizens – our friends, our neighbors – were able to acquire access to health care because of the Affordable Care Act.”

To help convey the real impact navigators have on helping Floridians find coverage, Jodi Ray put forth hard numbers.

USF Navigator Grant Principal Investigator Jodi Ray.

“More than 9.9 million consumers were enrolled nationwide during the second enrollment period and almost 1.6 million of those were Floridians – far surpassing projection numbers,” Ray said. “Nearly 200,000 individuals received one-on-one education and application assistance from USF Project Navigators and almost 700,000 consumers were reached through more than 3,600 community outreach activities across the state. Additionally, our combined marketing and communications effort throughout the year had a reach of nearly 58 million.”

Despite those numbers, there are still many who remain uninsured, said Raymond Paultre, executive director of Florida Enroll America.

Raymond Paultre, Florida State executive director of Enroll America.

“The good news is that the remaining uninsured still want insurance,” Paultre said. “According to recent polls, 7 out of 10 of remaining uninsured said it was important to them, but half of the remaining the uninsured still haven’t visited Get Covered America or Healthcare.gov . In addition to reaching out to the uninsured, we also be reaching out to the newly insured to check out the new options and to actively shop on the marketplace before they renew to make sure they’re getting the plan that best suits their financial needs and their family’s needs. HHS has recently reviewed some data showing that Floridians who changed plans when re-enrolling their coverage were saving close to $500 a year.”

Open Enrollment for health coverage began Nov. 1, 2015, and ends Jan. 31, 2016. This third enrollment period is also a chance for people to avoid paying a fine when they file their taxes. Those who do not enroll in a plan by the deadline of Jan. 31, 2016, could face a fine of $695 or 2.5 percent of yearly income, whichever is greater.

For more information, visit Healthcare.gov or call (813) 803-0628 to speak with a USF navigator.

From left, Michael Smith, Jodi Ray and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn.

From left, Dr. Ed Funai, Michael Smith, and Mayor Bob Buckhorn.

Photos by Eric Younghans, USF Health Office of Communications.

For the last 3 years Jodi Ray’s team has successfully partnered with key organizations statewide, providing enrollment education and outreach to vulnerable populations in all 67 Florida counties

Tampa, FL (Sept. 17, 2015) — Over the last three years, the University of South Florida has been awarded more than $14.5 million in federal Navigator grants to help eligible uninsured Floridians get health care coverage.

That total includes a $5.9 million 2016 Navigator grant announced Sept. 2 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which awarded a total of nearly $67 million in grants in 34 states federally facilitated and state partnership Health Insurance Marketplaces.  All recipients will have the opportunity to renew their grants for the next two years.

The Year 3 Navigator grant marks the second consecutive year that Jodi Ray’s team at the Florida Covering Kids & Families program (FL-CKF), USF College of Public Health, has won the largest Navigator grant in the country and in Florida.  Once again the program, directed by Ray, covers all 67 Florida counties, working with consortium partners that deploy in-person assisters known as navigators to explain health insurance options and help people sign up for plans.

“Jodi Ray and her incredible team are dedicated to helping everyone in Florida secure the means to access the health care they need to live full, productive lives,” said Donna Petersen, ScD, dean of the USF College of Public Health. “This level of support three years in a row is a clear testament to the incredible knowledge, skill and talent this group has cultivated over many years, connecting Florida families to health care coverage.  The College of Public Health couldn’t be prouder of their continued excellent work.”

For three years running, Jodi Ray, director of the Florida Covering Kids and Families program at the USF College of Public Health, has been the lead investigator for USF’s Navigator grant.

In its third year, the program will focus on helping consumers understand how to get the most out of their coverage as well continue new enrollments and renewals, Ray said.

“We want people who get health coverage to keep it and to understand how to use their benefits correctly to access care,” she said. “We will continue to make a concerted effort to target hard-to-reach populations and hone in on post-enrollment activities.”

USF FL-CKF will work with the following 11 consortium partners this year to expand education, outreach and enrollment:

• Florida CHAIN
• 90Works
• WellFlorida Council
• Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida
• United Way of Brevard
• Primary Care Access Network
• The Family Healthcare Foundation
• Health Council of Southeast Florida
• Broward Regional Health Planning Council
• Health Council of South Florida
• Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida

-USF Health-

USF Health’s mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, and the USF Physicians Group. USF Health is an integral part of the University of South Florida, a high-impact, global research university dedicated to student success. For more information, visit health.usf.edu.

Media contact:
Anne DeLotto Baier, USF Health Communications
abaier@health.usf.edu or (813) 974-3303

As 2013 winds down and USF Health  moves into 2014,  we reflects on some highlights and accomplishments over the past year.

And, we look ahead in the New Year to renewing our commitment and efforts to improve life in the Tampa Bay area and around the world — through education, research, service and patient care.

The University of South Florida broke ground for its USF Health Heart Institute, a $50-million proposed facility that will combine advanced research and technology with the best cardiovascular care to benefit patients with heart disease, diabetes and stroke.  USF Health will continue working with governmental, hospital and community partners to make the institute a reality.

The USF Health Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS), the world’s largest freestanding center of its kind, passed its first year with more than 14,000 learners from all 50 states and more than 60 countries. CAMLS completed a feasibility study with Panama to build a CAMLS-like facility and is also exploring expanding its academic entrepreneurial business model to Brazil, Mexico and Lebanon.  Healthcare professionals and students aren’t the only beneficiaries of CAMLS’  leading-edge, extensive resources for simulated learning.   In December, the USF Health doctors at CAMLS teamed up with the Florida Aquarium to help diagnose an injured sea turtle, Freud.

The USF College of Nursing continued to attract international attention for its research and education to benefit veterans and service members.  Recently published research by a USF Nursing faculty team suggests accelerated resolution therapy (ART), a brief new therapy to ease symptoms of psychological trauma, may be an option for veterans who do not respond optimally to conventional therapies endorsed by the Department of Defense and VA.  The college began its fourth and largest ART study, which will recruit 200 veterans and service members to study the cost-effectiveness of the therapy and further examine how and why it works. The college also received the largest of nine federal grants to help veterans with healthcare skills earn a bachelor of science degree in nursing.

The Florida Covering Kids & Families program at the Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies, USF College of Public Health, this summer received the largest navigator grant in Florida – and second largest in the country.  The one-year $4.2-million federal grant to help eligible uninsured individual get health care through the Health Insurance Marketplace drew widespread media attention to the USF navigators and their partners statewide. National coverage included stories in the News York Times, the Washington Post, the New Yorker, Associated Press, TIME magazine, The Huffington Post, Los Angeles Times, and the Wall Street Journal’s MarketWatch.

The USF Health Diabetes Home for Healthy Living opened in August, ushering a new approach to diabetes care.  The new one-stop facility in the Westshore area of Tampa offers diabetes patients a relaxing, home-like environment with every aspect of care to successfully and proactively manage their chronic condition.  The medical home is the newest addition to USF’s leading research, education and clinical care initiatives making life better for those with chronic illnesses like diabetes.

USF President Judy Genshaft appointed Donna Petersen, ScD,  and Harry van Loveren, MD, interim leaders of USF Health after healthcare innovator Stephen Klasko, MD, MBA, dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and CEO of USF Health, was named to lead a prominent Philadelphia university and hospital system.   Dr. Petersen, dean of the USF College of Public Health, serves as interim CEO of USF Health, and Dr. van Loveren, chair of the Department of Neurosurgery, as interim dean of the Morsani College of Medicine, while the national search for USF Health’s next CEO and medical school dean continues.

The USF College of Pharmacy continued to advance on a fast track as it grows toward a projected complement of 400 students. The incoming College of Pharmacy Class of 2017 represented the largest class in the highly competitive school’s short history – with 107 students selected from among 800 applicants. This past summer the college — with an innovative, rigorous curriculum emphasizing a collaborative approach to patient care and research — was awarded accreditation status by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.

The Doctors of USF Health campaign introduced this spring informed patients and families across the region that the region’s only academic medical center provides access to the most advanced health care available.  The brand identity linked to USF Health’s launch of a newly designed patient care website with access to nearly 400 highly specialized healthcare professionals.

The first class of USF SELECT students, having completed their first two years of learning at the Morsani College of Medicine, moved to Allentown, PA, to begin two years of clinical education at Lehigh Valley Health Network.  The innovative program, which welcomed its charter class in Fall 2011,  gives students unique training in leadership development, intense coaching, and the scholarly tools they need to become empathetic, passionate physician leaders who will be catalysts for change.

Construction began in March on the USF Health Specialty Care Center in The Villages, setting the stage for a new era and range of health care for residents of “America’s Healthiest Hometown,” the nation’s largest community of people over 55. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held Jan. 24, 2014, for the 25,000-square-foot facility, designed as a collaborative complement to The Villages’ expanding primary care network. USF Health doctors representing several specialties will provide high-level care at the new center,

A new master’s degree program in Physician Assistant Studies, based in the Morsani College of Medicine, was approved by the USF Board of Trustees in March 2013. The first class for the interprofessional, two-year PA program will start Summer 2015, initially accepting 24 students, with plans to increase that capacity. The program is an important step forward in addressing the state’s increasing shortage of primary care practitioners.

Tampa General Hospital approved a new long-term affiliation agreement with the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. The “evergreen” agreement automatically renews each year.  The strengthened partnership will help Tampa Bay’s only quaternary hospital and its only academic medical center to enhance what both institutions do best:  provide leading care for patients and teaching and training opportunities for residents and students.

The USF School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences and the University of West Florida announced a physical therapy partnership program that will offer a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree in Pensacola. The collaborative program, approved by the Florida Board of Governors in January 2013, will start in Summer 2014.  It will expand access to UWF students interested in pursuing a DPT and help meet a state-identified need for more physical therapists in a largely rural region of the state.  USF Physical Therapy also continues to lay the foundation for a new PhD program in Rehabilitation Sciences, which was approved by the USF Board of Trustees in December.

The USF College of Public Health greeted new students this fall with a record number of online offerings. Demand for the college’s online public health degree programs has exploded this year — with enrollment more than doubling since the middle of the last decade. The college’s advances in distance learning have been noted in the Guide to Online Schools, which uses data compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics to rank colleges with the best quality and most affordable online programs. USF Health is home to the nation’s first online master’s degree in health informatics and to seven online master’s degree programs in public health.

Photos by Eric Younghans, USF Health Communications

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