United Way of the Coastal Empire has selected MedBank to manage Access Benefits Online, a program that connects low-income people to public benefits through an online tool that allows MedBank to screen for eligibility and help with enrollment in programs such as Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and tax preparation.
United Way began offering the service in 2011 and has built a network of organizations across its four-county service area to help people in need. In 2013, the current network screened more than 700 households and help provide access to more than $500,000 worth of benefits.
MedBank will take over Access Benefits Online to, among other things, expand the program because it has the infrastructure in place to add service locations to reach low-income, under- and uninsured individuals and families across the Coastal Empire.
MedBank currently helps eligible patients access large pharmaceutical company patient assistance programs to obtain free medications. Referrals are accepted from physicians, hospitals and social service agencies by fax or mail. MedBank also operates on site services at several area clinics.
MedBank has been in existence for more than 20 years and has provided access to more than $60 million in free medications since 2008.
MedBank began providing benefit screenings and enrollment assistance to individuals at a subset of MedBank locations as of March 3 and will continue to provide full service prescription assistance in addition to Access Benefits Online.
“ABO is a perfect fit for expanding services at MedBank and is right in line with our mission to improve the overall health and well being of individuals,” said MedBank Executive Director Liz Longshore Stephens.
A MedBank news release indicated it plans to continue current ABO community partnerships and hopes to expand the program to all MedBank locations.
“Our current MedBank site partners love the idea of being able to provide this service,” Stephens said. “We just have to find additional funding to do so.”
MedBank will pursue additional support from the local community along with national grants to help fund the effort.
MedBank has four locations in Savannah and one each in Rincon, Hinesville and Statesboro.