Medicaid Renewal Client Support Program Mini-Grant Offering

Medicaid Renewals in Rhode Island started again on April 1, 2023, and will continue until April 1, 2024. The renewal process follows a staged approach, spanning 12 months, to ensure a smooth transition and maintain quality, affordable health coverage for Rhode Islanders. 

Looking ahead to the second phase, which includes continued outreach to our priority populations and high-density Medicaid zip codes as well as preparing for households with children beginning renewals in December 2023, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) plans to implement a second round of mini-grants. This program aims to engage partners in reaching a wide range of Rhode Islanders, with a particular focus on those facing barriers to awareness or challenges in completing the renewal process adequately.  

EOHHS has identified four areas for potential grantees to assist Medicaid enrollees with the renewal process. Applicants should leverage their strengths and ensure the proposed funding supplements, not supplants, their core work. The maximum grant amount is $4,950, and all work must be finished by November 30th 2023. 

  • Technology:  Grantees may propose a scope of work that incorporates immediate and long-term technology use throughout and after the Medicaid renewal process. Examples of fund usage include acquiring iPads or similar devices to aid enrollees in renewing coverage and conducting public-facing coaching on using the web-based HealthyRhode customer portal or its corresponding app on mobile devices.   

  • Training:  The grant may be used to support applicant organizations in enhancing their health care and social services expertise, as well as improving their understanding of Medicaid application/renewal processes and selecting appropriate, affordable health plans from the state's marketplace. Grantees can receive paid staff time for completing a self-paced Certified SHIP Counselor training or attending an eight-hour Certified Application Counselor (CAC) training or a similar program.  To learn more about becoming a Certified SHIP Counselor email: christine.anderson@oha.ri.gov. 

  • Outreach: The grant may fund culturally appropriate dissemination of information about the Medicaid renewal process through trusted messengers in the community where people live and work. The grant's objective is to move information beyond offices and into various community settings, such as homes, businesses, neighborhoods, festivals, and events. This may involve staff time for canvassing, direct assistance at events and high-traffic areas, providing transportation to document drop-off locations, and scanning/uploading of documents. Funds may also be used to cover costs associated with distributing information about Medicaid renewals at local events, such as back-to-school celebrations, backpack-stuffing events, or other relevant community touchpoints.  

  • Language and Cultural Competency Development:  This grant aims to improve understanding of Medicaid and health coverage for individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds and language speakers. Grantees will focus on developing language that simplifies the complex health coverage system, aiding enrollees in gaining a long-term understanding of accessing coverage. Applicants should identify community needs related to language and cultural competency and propose strategies to address them. For instance, they could create a vocabulary list with explanations for health coverage acronyms or offer mini-courses to enhance translation and interpretation skills. Grantees must be willing to share materials developed during the outreach process for future use by EOHHS. 

To Apply: Identify the area of support aligning with your organization's capabilities and potential. You can request funds from multiple categories, but the total amount must not exceed $4950. To apply, you must submit:

  1. A completed EOHHS Medicaid Renewal Mini-Grant Application,

  2. And a completed Budget Template.

Have you previously received a Medicaid Renewal Mini-Grant? In order to qualify for the current round of funding, please provide us with data from your last grant period (April 4th - June 30th) by filling out the Medicaid Mini-Grant Data Report Form: https://forms.office.com/g/59xjGe7yiG

Incomplete project proposals will not be considered. Submit the required documents to Kilah Walters-Clinton at kilah.waltersclinton@ohhs.ri.gov and cc: Maureen Wu at Maureen.wu@dhs.ri.gov no later than 5 p.m. on September 30, 2023. 

Requirements:  

  • Grantees must report the number of Medicaid clients reached by population group monthly based on their approved application. 

  • A final report, project deliverables (if applicable), and expenditure records must be submitted to EOHHS by 5 pm November 30th. The project implementation should commence between September 1 – November 30th. Reimbursement for grant-related expenses will be provided after the completion of the final report. 

  • Grantees must be available for monthly virtual support meetings to provide feedback, identify gaps, and learn from others. 

  • Training for the role of Certified Application Counselor (or similar training) will be provided by EOHHS and HealthSource RI at no cost to the grantee. The training subcategory should only itemize staff time charges. 

  • All applicants must register with the Ocean State Procures system to receive a standard purchase order and approved funds. Osp Vendor Registration | Rhode Island Division of Purchases (ri.gov). 

  • All applicants must register with the Ocean State Procures system in order to receive a standard purchase order and any approved funds. Osp Vendor Registration | Rhode Island Division of Purchases (ri.gov). 

Restrictions: 

Mini-grant funding may not be used for operational expenses ordinarily undertaken by the applicant organization. Applications must clearly demonstrate how funding will be used to supplement the organization’s ordinary activity in the domains of health, wellness, and community engagement. 

Scoring Criteria: 

Applications will be evaluated as pass/fail based on completion, budget (under $4950), and adherence to restrictions. Awards will depend on fund availability and passing grade. If funding requests exceed the allotment, priority will be given based on the application submission date, with organizations in high-density communities receiving preference.

Medicaid Renewal Client Support Program Documents