Well, it's explained in the 474 additional CMS guidance just released.
Or, you can read the synopsis from L&H below which I read as a glorified medicaid navigator similar to SHIP for medicare:
http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2013-00659_PI.pdf
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CMS -- an arm of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) -- proposes, for example, that it would create a new category of advisors, " Certified Application Counselors" (CACs), to help low-income consumers sign up for Medicaid and CHIP plans.
The application counselors would provide "the same core application assistance service that is also available directly through the exchange," and through independent exchange ombudsmen to be known as "Navigators."
The application counselors also would provide services similar to the services provided by licensed agents and brokers, officials said in the preamble to the proposed regulations.
"The distinction between these entities is that application counselors are not funded through the exchange, through grants or directly, or licensed by states as agents or brokers," officials said. "We believe that this separate class of application counselors is important to ensure that skilled application assistance is available from entities like community health centers and community-based organizations that may not fit in to the other categories."
Or, you can read the synopsis from L&H below which I read as a glorified medicaid navigator similar to SHIP for medicare:
http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2013-00659_PI.pdf
------------------------
CMS -- an arm of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) -- proposes, for example, that it would create a new category of advisors, " Certified Application Counselors" (CACs), to help low-income consumers sign up for Medicaid and CHIP plans.
The application counselors would provide "the same core application assistance service that is also available directly through the exchange," and through independent exchange ombudsmen to be known as "Navigators."
The application counselors also would provide services similar to the services provided by licensed agents and brokers, officials said in the preamble to the proposed regulations.
"The distinction between these entities is that application counselors are not funded through the exchange, through grants or directly, or licensed by states as agents or brokers," officials said. "We believe that this separate class of application counselors is important to ensure that skilled application assistance is available from entities like community health centers and community-based organizations that may not fit in to the other categories."
