HAAM seeks $500,000 in next year’s city budget to fund insurance for local musicians

The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians is seeking continued support from the city of Austin and possibly Travis County to help cover the cost of subsidized health insurance for more than 2,000 local musicians each year.

Tonight’s Music Commission meeting will feature a presentation from HAAM CEO Paul Scott, who is seeking commissioners to approve a $500,000 request for next year’s city budget. The funding will provide his $250,000 in premium assistance support and $250,000 to fund his efforts to help musicians obtain insurance through the federal insurance marketplace during next fall’s enrollment period. provided.

HAAM has received small city-funded grants totaling less than $100,000 in recent years, primarily related to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The partnership with Central Health provides premium grants to musicians who earn up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, and HAAM’s premium grants program targets musicians who earn between 200 percent and 400 percent of the poverty level.

For most of its existence, HAAM has arranged in-kind primary care and other services through a network of local providers such as Ascension. The opening of the Federal Insurance Marketplace has made it possible for thousands of cash-strapped musicians to secure insurance through a combination of federal grants and other subsidies. Currently, approximately 95% of musicians enrolled in HAAM have health insurance.

Scott said the city’s funding will help ensure a stable level of support for local musicians while the organization adjusts for annual fluctuations in premium costs and the choice of insurance companies that provide coverage in Texas. Said it was helpful.

“We’re just waiting to see what happens with premium increases. …That’s always a big question mark. We didn’t see a huge increase this year, but there are some years where we see an increase and it’s really It affects the number of musicians that can serve the industry,” Scott said. austin monitor. “The market is also very volatile depending on the insurance companies operating in Texas, so there’s always a question mark: Are they going to come back to the market to provide insurance?” Or the group? Should I transfer my member to a plan with another carrier if it no longer operates in Texas?

Scott also plans to request a similar budget request from the city’s Quality of Life Commission to supplement HAAM’s annual budget of $4.6 million, 50% of which comes from three fundraising events. The rest comes from individual donors and private foundations. That structure makes the group’s funding somewhat unpredictable from year to year. So Scott is focusing on providing social services grants from Travis County, as well as seeking annual support from the city.

“We always know that there are different grant opportunities available through city, county, and even state and federal grants. It’s hard to find one that specifically aligns with what we do. “Scott said. “We are a healthcare provider, but because we serve musicians, we may not meet the eligibility criteria based on the population we serve.”

In 2022, Scott asked the City Council Public Health Committee for $1 million in city funds, but commissioners at the time instead offered to help HAAM tap into other state resources.

As various city committees finalize next year’s budget requests, the City Council prepares to undergo a mid-year budget review in April, a potential foreshadowing of a difficult budget process this summer. There is.

Last week, Department of Financial Services staff released an update on year-end finances, saying a drop in sales tax revenue could result in a shortfall of about $15 million, but some members of Congress said the budget reserve fund He said that this could be covered by reducing contributions. Some unexpected shortages.

Interim City Manager Jesus Garza said the city will soon use up all of its funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, reducing services and spending to pre-COVID-19 levels for programs that have received significant federal aid. He said he would force them to return.

Photo by Earl McGehee is available through a Creative Commons License.

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