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Health Center Outreach Workers Recognized for Heroic Efforts

Outreach and Enrollment staff

Pictured: Honored Outreach and Enrollment staff from across the Commonwealth

7-3-14 Feature Story:

Boston, MA – The state's more than 460 community health center outreach and enrollment workers were honored with the League's 2014 Community Service Award at its recent annual awards gala.

"Health center outreach and enrollment workers are often the unsung heroes of community health," said Toni McGuire, League Board Chair and President and CEO of the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center in Worcester. “And given the challenges that have plagued the state’s enrollment system over this past year, their efforts have been particularly heroic as they work to engage and retain patients in critical health care coverage."

Since the launch of the new federal health reform plans created under the nation’s Affordable Care Act, health center outreach staff have assisted nearly 300,000 patients in need of enrollment help, facilitated the completion of more than 114,000 insurance applications, and successfully enrolled some 73,000 state residents into new coverage – all despite major technology glitches with the state’s new eligibility and enrollment system.

The League's annual Community Service Award recognizes both the commitment and achievements of an individual or group in advancing the impact of community health. This year’s award to health center outreach and enrolment staff was presented during the League’s Annual Awards Gala at the Copley Westin Hotel in Boston. The event was attended by more than 750 representatives from the state’s community health centers, government agencies, hospitals, health plans and other community-based service organizations.