SAVANNAH — MedBank has been selected by United Way of the Coastal Empire to assume management of Access Benefits Online.
ABO is a program that connects low-income people to public benefits through an online tool that allows MedBank to screen for eligibility and assist with enrollment in programs such as Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Tax Preparation.
United Way began offering the service in 2011 and since has built a network of organizations across its four-county service area to assist people in need. In 2013, the current network screened more than 700 households and assisted in providing access to more than $500,000 worth of benefits.
Now that ABO has been successfully launched, United Way is handing over management of the program to MedBank for expansion. MedBank has the infrastructure in place to add service- delivery locations to reach low-income, under- and uninsured individuals and families across the Coastal Empire.
MedBank began providing benefit screenings and enrollment assistance to individuals at a subset of MedBank locations on March 3. MedBank will continue to provide full-service prescription assistance in addition to ABO.
“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,” MedBank Executive Director Liz Longshore Stephens said.
MedBank plans to continue current ABO community partnerships and hopes to expand the program to all MedBank locations.
MedBank will be pursuing additional support from the local community and national grants to ensure Coastal Empire community members have the opportunity to access local, state, and national benefits that combine to change lives for the better.
United Way of the Coastal Empire serves four counties, including Liberty.