Uninsured Patients Find Healthcare Assistance through Broward Health’s MOPED Program

MOPED, created in May 2009 by Broward General Medical Center’s Chief Financial Officer Mark Doyle, proactively helps patients qualify for Medicaid, charity and financial assistance as needed. Since the program’s inception, more than 23,000 patients have visited the MOPED office, conveniently located in the main lobby of Broward General Medical Center.

 

As a result of the program’s initial success, similar MOPED programs are slated to roll out at all Broward Health facilities by October 2010. These additional locations will make the program more available for all residents in the northern Broward community.

 

“There has been an overwhelmingly positive response to MOPED from patients, families and the overall community, said Doyle. “Particularly in these challenging times, word has gotten out that MOPED helps people successfully navigate through the paperwork and application forms needed to obtain financial assistance for healthcare. It’s a full-service program that goes further to help people in need apply for food stamps, discounted phone service and even temporary cash.”

 

Between 85 and 100 patients visit the MOPED office every day. Each patient is given a pager while waiting to see a member of the multi-lingual staff, which speaks English, Spanish and Creole. There are no lines, and wait times are less than 25 minutes. Due to the convenience of the pager, patients can pass the short wait time by watching TV in the lobby or visiting one of the food vendors.

 

MOPED requires patients to bring their medical bills, personal forms, documents, and identification with them in order to complete the process. All paperwork and forms for the application process are conveniently processed in the office with guidance from a staff member.

 

Broward General Medical Center has actively promoted the program to create awareness both in the hospital and in the community. Its outreach includes partnerships with the Department of Children and Families, the Hispanic Unity of Florida and the YMCA. Information has also been distributed to 94 other organizations to create additional awareness about the program and its benefits. Broward General Medical Center has also planned a promotional event raffling off an actual moped to assist with branding efforts for the campaign.

 

Among the program’s other highlights:

• MOPED has significantly reduced Broward General Medical Center’s uncompensated care. The program improved Medicaid gross revenue by $23 million in its first year.

• The program achieved a 108 percent increase in Medicaid enrollment since June 2009.

• 6,346 tax fund/charity applications have been completed since the program’s inception.

• The MOPED website has received 6,149 hits since it was activated in May 2009.          

• MOPED recently applied for two federal grants worth $250,000 each – a nomination for best community outreach program, and another for programs that will assist in the upcoming federal healthcare reform. These grants, if secured, will help promote and expand the program.

 

“MOPED has made a real difference in people’s lives,” said Martha Walsh, Broward General’s regional manager of patient access. “Having health insurance gives patients and their families peace of mind, both before and after a hospital visit. It lets them focus on their health rather than how they will pay for medical bills.”

 

One patient, a successful entrepreneur, was forced to resign from running his company last December due to a disability that would eventually require a liver transplant. Uninsured and facing a potentially overwhelming medical bill, he got in contact with MOPED, where they helped facilitate a payment alternative.

 

Speaking about MOPED, he noted, “It’s a great program and the word should get out. The assistance I received from the MOPED program was invaluable.”

 

“MOPED’s biggest challenge is getting clients to follow up with all the necessary documents needed to complete their applications,” said Mark Doyle. “Many of the documents may be difficult to understand or take time to acquire, so patients lose track of what needs to be done. We are working to address this issue to help get more patients the medical coverage they deserve.”

 

MOPED could serve as a model for other communities. It is also serving as valuable experience prior to the implementation of healthcare reform, which will require patients to register and qualify for federal coverage.