FLINT (Feb. 9, 2012) — Linda Hamacher, President and CEO of GHP will be addressing the Medicaid Innovations Forum on February 9, 2012. This is a national forum that addresses innovations in expanding coverage, improving quality and controlling costs for the uninsured.

She will discuss “The Changing Face of Medicaid: A Profile of the 2014 Medicaid Population and Interventions that Work”.  Topics will include:

·       A demographic and medical profile of the uninsured population eligible for Medicaid post reform

·       An analysis of mental health and substance abuse service needs

·       Interventions that work to reduce emergency room and inpatient care,  and improved healthy behaviors

·       Ongoing safety-net needs

Genesee Health Plan (GHP) is a community-based non-profit that provides primary care and other basic services to 27,000 low-income, uninsured adults in Genesee County, Michigan, one of the most economically depressed areas of the U.S.  GHP is the only county health plan in Michigan funded directly by the community through a special millage.  Genesee Health Plan reduced member use of emergency department services by 51% and hospital admissions by 15% between 2006 and 2007.  The success of GHP has demonstrated that any community – even one with scarce resources – can provide basic, affordable health services to uninsured adults.