By Bailey Whelton
Within this past fall, Sendero Health has faced many obstacles to keep it from being funded in the 2019 Central Health budget.
“I’m just really grateful that the board changed its mind to the initial defunding of Sendero and I’m super hopeful that a lot of people sign up,” said Julie Oliver, a board member for Sendero who has always been a supporter of the healthcare provider.
The voting for the new Central Health budget that would’ve removed Sendero Health as a healthcare provider had been delayed earlier this year, when communities started to speak out against the defunding of Sendero. Sendero Health, in the past had provided insurance to about 24,000 low-income residents in or around Travis County. In late September, Sendero finally received board approval to get funding for 2019, which reversed an earlier decision after hearing the outcries of many Sendero supporters. After the Sendero Board approved to keep Sendero around, Central Health approved a $26 million budget to keep Sendero afloat for the upcoming fiscal year.
“For many people who are self-employed or are artists who traditionally wouldn’t have avenues to access for health insurance this is necessary, and this is what we want,” stated Oliver.
One major step Central Health has taken to keep Sendero around past 2019 has been to expand access to its premium assistance program.
In a news release, Central Health said they would be moving members of the Medical Access Program (MAP) and other Central Health patients “with complex illnesses and medical needs to Sendero in an effort to leverage more money through the Affordable Care Act’s Risk Adjustment Program.”
By signing up for Sendero, these members will be offered premium assistance giving them access “to a larger network of doctors.”
“Being able to tap into the cost-sharing subsidies will help Sendero stay viable,” said Oliver.
No one will be forced to move over to Sendero, this is an option for members.
Oliver estimates that anywhere from 100 to 300 people will be moved over to the MAP program, but won’t be able to give an accurate number until they have their budget and finance committee meeting on Wednesday of this week.
During this meeting the board will be able to see the numbers for how many people have signed up for Sendero so far and what the numbers look like for next year. With the executive administration in the United States cutting 90 percent of the budget to get people on the Affordable Care Act and also shortening the sign up and enrollment window, Oliver is hopeful that Sendero will be able to stick around past the 2019 fiscal year.
“There’s that freedom of being able to find a provider or specialist that can work for that particular patient,” said Oliver, “and I’m super pleased that we were able to allow people to get this sort of access.”
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