“The purpose of our MHHD Office utilizing this grant will be to increase the number and percent of minority populations utilizing primary care services,” said Maryland Health and Mental Hygiene Secretary Van T. Mitchell. “We expect utilization of this grant will improve population health and will reduce healthcare costs by assisting minority populations to access quality primary care services – both preventive and treatment services – in Prince George's County.” The grant’s title is “Educating Minorities of Benefits Received after Consumer Enrollment (EMBRACE).” The grant cycle is August 2015 to July 2020.  

 

“The goal of EMBRACE is to reduce minority health disparities by removing obstacles that newly insured consumers can encounter when attempting to access preventive services,” said Arlee Wallace, MHHD’s acting director. “In addition to connecting consumers with care, this process will help reduce the costs associated with unnecessary emergency department visits, admissions and readmissions.”  

 

The grant allows MHHD to work with Medicaid, Washington Adventist Healthcare, Morgan State University, the Prince George's County Health Department, Maryland Health Connection, managed care organizations, community-based organizations and other healthcare providers. The grants will focus on six ZIP codes where blacks and Latinos made up the largest populations that had low health insurance rates before the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.  

 

To learn more about MHHD, visit www.dhmh.maryland.gov/mhhd.