April 12, 2019
(Austin) – On Monday, residents are invited to hear an update and ask questions about Sendero’s progress towards financial stability, and the latest Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollment numbers for Central Texas.
Leaders from Central Health and Sendero are hosting a Community Conversation. Central Health is Travis County’s Healthcare District, and Sendero Health Plans is Central Health’s nonprofit community-based health maintenance organization (HMO).
Last fall the Central Health Board of Managers invested an additional $26 million in Sendero for Fiscal Year 2019, but required the health insurance company to report back monthly on its progress. Central Health and Sendero developed a strategy to draw down more federal funding through the ACA, further leveraging local tax dollars. The plan involves giving chronically-ill Medical Access Program (MAP) members the option of moving to a private insurance plan offered by Sendero. Central Health pays Sendero premiums for the select group of Travis County residents who had been high-risk MAP members, giving them access to more doctors, prescriptions and other health services. With a sicker pool of members, Sendero can collect more money from the ACA’s Risk Adjustment Program, which is designed to level the playing field between insurance companies – compensating insurers whose members are sicker, require more services, and cost more to insure.
Since 2011, Central Health has invested $108 million in Sendero. In return, the HMO has delivered more than $470 million in health coverage to more than 135,000 people.
WHAT: Community Conversation with leaders from Sendero and Central Health discussing Sendero’s progress and what to expect in the future, followed by a question and answer session with attendees.
WHEN/WHERE: 6:30 – 8 p.m., Monday, April 15, at Central Health, 1111 E. Cesar Chavez, Austin, Texas.
WHO: Mike Geeslin, President and CEO, Central Health; Wes Durkalski, CEO, Sendero Health Plans; Dr. Guadalupe Zamora, Central Health Board Chair; Dr. Charles Bell, Sendero/Central Health Board Member; Kit Abney-Spelce, Senior Director of Eligibility Services, Central Health; Michelle Tijerina, Director of Health Insurance Enrollment & Training, Central Health.
