Undocumented non-citizens are barred from coverage under the ACA, but some states are using state-only funding to provide coverage to this population. This panel will discuss some of the current strategies around the country to serve undocumented non-citizens. Panelists will describe state and local initiatives that provide crucial health care to these individuals. Where the state isn’t providing funding, representatives from safety net systems will describe how they are filling this gap in coverage. Speakers:
- Claudia Calhoon, Health Advocacy Senior Specialist, New York Immigration Coalition -- Claudia Calhoon joined the NYIC in 2014 as Health Advocacy Senior Specialist. She is responsible for program development and management of NYIC’s advocacy to ensure health access for all immigrant communities in New York. Claudia has led program development and operations in a diverse array of public health and non-profit settings including the Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture, the Open Society Foundations and as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cuenca, Ecuador
- Tangerine Brigham, Director of Office of Managed Care, Los Angeles County Dept. of Health Services -- Tangerine M. Brigham is Deputy Director of Managed Care Services for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (LACDHS) and oversees its management services organization and health program for the uninsured, My Health LA. Prior to joining LACDHS, Ms. Brigham served as a Deputy Director of Health with the San Francisco Department of Public Health and Director of the Healthy San Francisco Program, and oversaw development and implementation of San Francisco’s former Low Income Health Program. She previously served as Community Health Program Officer for The San Francisco Foundation, Chief of Staff-Administrative Services for L.A. Care Health Plan, Director of the Corporation for Supportive Housing’s California program, Director of Policy & Planning and Budget Manager for the San Francisco Department of Public Health, and Policy Analyst for the San Francisco Department of Social Services. She received her Master of Public Policy degree from the University of California at Berkeley and her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of California at Los Angeles.
- Rebecca Pleitez, Senior Programs and Patients Services Director, Clinica Romero, Los Angeles -- Rebecca is the Senior Programs and Patient Services Director at Clinica Monseñor Oscar A. Romero where she is responsible for developing and executing strategic programming and patient services. She serves as a lead administrator working with cross-functional teams and program directors to offer care with respect and dignity to people with limited or no health insurance, without exclusion. Previously, Rebecca worked for National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, the National Council of La Raza/California State University Long Beach Center for Latino Community Health, Evaluation, and Leadership Training, AltaMed Health Services Corporation, and the County of San Bernardino Department of Public Health. Her work on cervical cancer and Latinas was published in the Harvard Journal of Hispanic Policy entitled, Latinas and Cervical Cancer, a Preventable Disease.
- Marlene Zurack, Senior Vice President & Finance Chief Financial Officer, New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation -- Marlene Zurack is Senior Vice President of Finance and Managed Care, Corporate Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), and a Corporate Officer at HHC. As CFO, Ms. Zurack has charge and custody of and responsibility for all HHC funds and securities. Specifically, she has oversight of all treasury, financial planning and analysis, accounting, debt financing, investor relations, revenue cycle management operations, and budgeting functions. In addition, Ms. Zurack is responsible for managed care contracting and operations.
- Mariela Estrada, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, Chicago