The National Legal Aid and Defender Association (NLADA) is sponsoring a teleconference on February 4, from 12 noon - 1:30 PM Eastern, to provide information for legal aid providers interested in applying for funding from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) under the Connecting Kids to Coverage Outreach and Enrollment Program funded by the Affordable Care Act. 

Legal aid programs are well-placed to help CMS meet the goal of the initiative aimed at ensuring that children are enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).  A number of providers are already working on proposals for the February 21 application deadline.   

The teleconference will be aimed particularly at the role legal aid providers can play in meeting the goals of Connecting Kids grants and how they can develop the best possible applications.  Expert advice will be provided by:

1. legal aid managers and advocates who have experience in promoting children’s health care using federal CHIP grants;
2. a health law specialist at the National Health Law Project;
3. representatives from the Department of Justice involved in a collaborative effort with CMS designed to effectively incorporate legal aid providers into ACA outreach and enrollment efforts; and
4. a representative of CMS directly involved in the implementation of the grant program.

Confirmed panelists include:

• Donna Cohen Ross, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• Mary Asbury, Executive Director, Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati
• Trey Daly, Senior Attorney, Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati
• Elisabeth Benjamin, VP Health Initiatives, Community Service Society of New York
• Jane Perkins, Legal Director, National Health Law Program
• Karen Lash and Melanca Clark, Senior Counsel, Access to Justice Initiative, U.S. Department of Justice

Persons interested in participating in the teleconference should reply by e-mail to Kevin Mills (k.mills@nlada.org) to sign up and receive contact information.