IMLS and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to Partner with Libraries

IMLS announces $286,104 award to OCLC’s WebJunction to meet public demand for information about Health Insurance Marketplace.

During the annual meeting of the American Library Association, The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), together with representatives from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), met with library representatives on Sunday, June 30, to hear more about what librarians can do to get ready to respond to patron requests for assistance in navigating new health insurance options in the Health Insurance Marketplace.

IMLS has also awarded $286,104 to OCLC to support the effort through its flagship public library program WebJunction.org. The goal is to assure that librarians have the information and connections with local experts needed to connect their patrons to information about the Health Insurance Marketplace when open enrollment begins October 1, 2013. OCLC will work closely with ZeroDivide, a social impact organization that helps underserved communities realize the transformative power of technology to improve health outcomes, to implement the program.

Learn more about this initiative and view the complete press release here.