BREMERTON — The Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center is opening an in-house clinic for the first time after the organization’s longtime partner, West Sound Free Clinic, stopped offering three free medical consultations a month to KIAC customers. Preparations are underway to establish.
Even though recent legislation allows undocumented immigrants in Washington to buy health insurance through state exchanges, paying for health care remains a high hurdle for many immigrants. That’s why the Bremerton-based nonprofit has developed procedures and policies to ensure the people it serves continue to receive free health care.
Specifically, licensed health care providers who previously served as volunteers at the West Sound Free Clinic will be transferred to practice medicine directly and autonomously within KIAC’s organization. The nonprofit organization also established an oversight committee to ensure proper policies and procedures are in place.
“What we really want is to not have to have an in-house free clinic,” said Kimberly Cizek-Allen, KIAC’s interim executive director. “We hope that patients can afford to see a primary care provider and receive regular care, but the reality we live in is not.”
Founded in 2012, the West Sound Free Clinic is a nonprofit mobile clinic staffed by volunteer doctors and nurses that serves the uninsured and underinsured in Kitsap and Mason counties. Provided free medical care.
Founded in 2004, KIAC currently serves immigrants in Kitsap, Jefferson, Clallam, Mason and Pierce counties, with locations in Belfair and Port Townsend in addition to its headquarters on Wheaton Way.
The clinic was just one part of KIAC’s long-standing effort to work with community partners to provide free and low-cost health care to immigrant communities on the western side of Puget Sound.
According to KIAC’s 2022 Annual Report, more than 160 patients were seen by providers at the 32 clinics served by West Sound Free Clinic, and 30 physical therapy sessions were performed at Kitsap Physical Therapy. session provided. KIAC also partnered with Peninsula Community Health Services for dental care and with Project Access Northwest to provide specialty care, Allen said.
New law makes health insurance available to everyone
Starting in November, anyone living in Washington state, regardless of immigration status, will be able to enroll through the Washington Health Plan Finder, which the state created after the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, effective January 2024. You can now enroll in health insurance and dental insurance.
The change is retroactive to a December 2022 law in which the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Treasury Department authorized the state’s forward in-kind payments. State innovation exemption Pursuant to Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act. The waiver will reportedly allow the Washington Health Benefits Exchange to expand access to health and dental plans through the Washington Health Plan Finder. statement From Washington Health Benefit Exchange in 2022.
As a result of this approval, starting in 2024, all uninsured state residents will have access to qualified health plans (QHPs), stand-alone qualified dental plans (QDPs), and Cascade Care Savings, a state-funded program that lowers premiums. You will be able to do it. Customer costs can reach up to 250% of the federal poverty level. Previously, about 25% of the state’s uninsured population could not obtain insurance through the Washington Health Plan Finder because of federal regulations related to immigration status, the newspaper said. State exchange.
According to Washington Health Plan Finder, federal and state laws protect the privacy of people who apply for health insurance through Washington Health Plan Finder, so information about an applicant’s immigration status will not be used for immigration purposes. It will be used only to determine insurance eligibility.
Waiver approval is effective from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2028.
Additionally, starting in July 2024, undocumented adults who earn income willLess than 138% of the federal poverty level People may be eligible for programs like Apple Health, but the state Legislature’s funding for this is limited and is first-come, first-served, Allen said.
“While these two factors will help improve access, they will not be enough,” Allen said. “Many undocumented immigrants do not seek treatment because insurance and health care costs are too high, and people are unable to seek medical treatment.” This is because they often do not go to She said you need to see a doctor until your health really deteriorates.
Allen noted that foreign-born people make up 6.8% of Kitsap County’s population, and that the county has more than 18,000 immigrants, noting that KIAC’s customers as well as the broader community He said it was important to continue providing care to society. to 2020 US Census.
“It helps treat communicable diseases. It helps the overall health of the community. And it really helps the people we serve who are marginalized and have many barriers to accessing care.” “It’s having a huge impact,” Allen said. To fill this gap, KIAC will incur increased costs to operate an in-house clinic.
Equity in healthcare includes language services
KIAC continues to advocate for health equity for immigrants and will continue to work with other partners to provide information about new health insurance expansions in Spanish and Mam at an in-person event later this month. We plan to inform people about these opportunities through effective communication. Annika Turner, director of family services at KIAC, said:
“Expanding health insurance to all Washingtonians will benefit all of us. It will reduce the spread of disease in our communities and emergency room wait times, and increase the number of uninsured people.” It will improve the health outcomes of children with absent parents,” Turner said. Tell our representatives that you want immigrant health equity to be fully funded in 2024. ”
