Community Breakfast Group Hosts Health Navigator for Eastern Shore December 12

Amanda Nelson, Lead Navigator for the Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center (Eastern Shore AHEC), will discuss the Maryland Health Connection (MHC) at the December 12 meeting of the Community Breakfast Group (CBG). The MHC is the marketplace for individuals, families and small businesses to compare and enroll in health insurance and determine eligibility for Medicaid and other assistance programs, federal tax credits and cost-sharing reductions. The MHC represents Maryland’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). After all the misleading stories you may have heard about the ACA, Ms. Nelson is an expert on the subject who can give you an accurate picture of how the ACA will affect you.

The CBG meets for breakfast every Thursday at 7:30AM at the Holiday Inn Express in Chestertown.

Aside from their responsibility for implementing the ACA on the Eastern Shore, the Eastern Shore AHEC is an interesting organization in its own right, one you may have never heard of. Its mission is to “become the leader in providing educational services and programs to assist Eastern Shore communities in the recruitment and retention of health care professionals through collaborative partnerships.” They manage a variety of educational programs such Geriatric Assessment Interdisciplinary Teams; quality, diverse, affordable educational programs for healthcare professionals; and the Children’s Regional Oral Health Consortium. Their officers include a who’s who of public health officials on the Eastern Shore, including President Roger Harrell, Health Officer of Dorchester County, Vice-President Addie Eckardt, Delegate from Legislative District 37B and Treasurer Scott Burleson, Executive Vice-President of the Chester River Health System.

The Eastern Shore AHEC service area is home to 6 hospitals and 2 federally qualified health centers located in predominantly rural areas serving a total regional population of approximately 450,000 people. All 9 counties are either in whole or in part federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs), specifically in the areas of primary health care, mental health care, and dental health care.

As an important leader of the Eastern Shore AHEC, Ms. Nelson will give our CBG invaluable insight into management of public health on the Eastern Shore.