Project Access NOW

Name

Project Access NOW

Legal name

Project Access NOW

Website

https://projectaccessnow.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services and Healthcare Navigation

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Assistance & Benefits Navigation Services (BPAGAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Eligibility, Enrollment & Benefits Administration (HLAEALAH), Healthcare-Linked Social Benefits Administration (e.g., Medicaid/Means-Tested Health Coverage) (BPAIAKAH)

Keywords

• Health insurance navigation
• Social services coordination
• Community health programs
• Health-related social needs
• Nonprofit safety net services

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Partner Funding (Hospitals and Insurance Plans): The Community Assistance Program (CAP) is funded by referring partners, including hospitals and insurance plans. These partners contract with PANOW to obtain access to their network of service providers and administrative capabilities.
2. Government Contracts: PANOW facilitates payments and verifies eligibility for Oregon Health Plan's Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) benefit under the 1115 waiver, and manages funds on behalf of hospital and Coordinated Care Organization (CCO) partners.
3. Donations and Fundraising: PANOW accepts donations to support their operations and programs, including their Annual Gala fundraising event.
4. Foundation Grants: 211info is funded by state and municipal contracts, foundations, donations, and community partners.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Project Access NOW is a nonprofit organization that provides free health insurance enrollment navigation, premium payment support, and a Community Assistance Program linking Oregon residents with social services that address health-related social needs. Services are funded through contracts with hospitals, insurance plans, and Coordinated Care Organizations, supplemented by foundation grants and donations, and delivered to clients via phone, email, online appointments, and partner referrals.

Product overview

Project Access NOW operates as a coordinated service organization offering a suite of interconnected programs designed to connect Oregon residents with healthcare coverage and social services. The core offerings include Health Insurance Enrollment Support and Health Insurance Payment Support, which together form the IEPS program for navigating and affording private insurance and Medicaid. The Community Assistance Program (CAP) complements these by addressing social determinants of health through partnerships with hospitals and insurance plans. Supporting resources include Health Insurance 101 for education and 211info for broader community referrals. All programs are designed to work together to stabilize individuals and families navigating complex healthcare and social service systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Health Insurance Enrollment Support Free, confidential health coverage navigation service provided by trained navigators who help individuals and families understand their coverage options, complete eligibility screening, and manage enrollment for Medicaid, Marketplace plans, and other coverage types.
• Health Insurance Payment Support (IEPS) Program that pays insurance premiums for qualified individuals to ensure access to care and reduced medical costs, including assistance with writing off healthcare bills and medication co-pay removal.
• Community Assistance Program (CAP) Referral-based program linking individuals to social services addressing health-related needs including hotels, utility assistance, meal delivery, transportation, climate devices, recovery services, and medication assistance. Currently serves Medicaid beneficiaries through contracted hospital and insurance partners.
• Safe Hospital Discharge Program Program supporting successful transitions of patients from hospital stays back home and maintaining stability, supporting over 20,000 patients in the past year.
• Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) Benefit Administration Administrative program that verifies eligibility and facilitates payments for Oregon Health Plan's Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) benefit under the 1115 waiver, managing funds on behalf of hospital and Coordinated Care Organization (CCO) partners.
• Health-Related Social Flex Funds (HRSF) Program Program that conveys funds to the community via Health-Related Social Flex Funds, administering $16 million to the community in the past year through CCO partners.
• IEPS Partner Program Insurance Enrollment and Payment Support partner program helping partners improve health outcomes by simplifying health insurance navigation, providing payment assistance for low-income individuals, and offering streamlined contracting and billing processes.
• 211info Community Resource Helpline Free confidential service connecting Oregon residents with local support services including crisis hotlines, housing, food assistance, childcare, healthcare, mental health support, transportation, legal aid, employment services, and financial wellness resources through phone, text, and mobile app, serving all 36 counties in Oregon.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18% reduction in emergency room use with housing assistance (2021 Portland-based study)

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Hospitals (Referring Partners)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospitals refer patients to the Community Assistance Program (CAP) for social needs support. Partners contract with PANOW to obtain access to the network of service providers, simplified contracting and billing, and streamlined support for vulnerable populations. PANOW facilitates donated care coordination and social services.
• Insurance Plans (Referring Partners)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInsurance plans refer members to CAP for social needs support. They fund the program and contract with PANOW for administrative services, billing simplification, and reporting.
• Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCO partners work with PANOW to manage Health-Related Social Flex Funds (HRSF) and facilitate Oregon Health Plan's Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) benefit under the 1115 waiver.
• Community-Based OrganizationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal businesses and community-based organizations contract with PANOW to provide services to community members. PANOW handles contracting, taxes, billing, and payment via streamlined request system.
• 211infomajorStrategic or Co-development Partner211info is a confidential, community-based nonprofit that connects Oregon residents with local resources. PANOW partners to provide access to 211info services, helping individuals find food, housing, healthcare, and other social services.
• Legacy Health PartnerscoreOthersJenny Robinson, Executive Director of Legacy Health Partners, serves as Board Chair. Legacy Health participates in the Health System Partner Committee.
• Virginia Garcia Memorial Health CentercoreOthersJuan Ugarte, Medical Operations Department Administrator, serves as Board Vice Chair. Represents Federally Qualified Health Center perspective.
• Samaritan Health ServicescoreOthersLiberty Pertiwi, Director of Primary Care Services, serves as Board Secretary. Participates in Fundraising and Communication Committee.
• Kaiser PermanentecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKaiser Permanente participates in Health System Partner Committee. Their representatives include Alicia Lee and Daniel Hannawald-Morales. Nichole Melvin, MSN, RN, serves as Board Member.
• Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOHSU participates in Health System Partner Committee with representatives including Jennifer Leich, Kristi Cushman, and Laura Suarez.
• Providence Health & ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvidence participates in Health System Partner Committee with representative Shelley Yoder. Jackie Fabrick, Government Affairs Director, serves as Board Member.
• Multnomah County Community Health CentercoreOthersAnirudh Padmala, MS, serves as Board Member and represents the perspective of community health centers serving underserved populations.
• Trillium Community Health PlancoreOthersJeanne Savage, MD, Chief Medical Officer, serves as Board Member. Represents Medicaid managed care organization perspective.
• CareOregoncoreOthersJennifer Chi, Director of Digital Experience, serves as Board Member. Represents Medicaid managed care organization perspective.
• Housecall ProvidersminorOthersRebecca Ramsay, BSN, MPH, CEO, serves as Board Member. Represents home-based healthcare provider perspective.
• Adventist HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdventist Health participates in Health System Partner Committee with representative Dr. Terry Johnsson.
• Hillsboro Medical CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHillsboro Medical Center participates in Health System Partner Committee with representative Scott Schwab.
• Hospital Association of OregonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospital Association of Oregon participates in Health System Partner Committee with representative Sierra Canfield.
• Purchaser's Business Group on HealthcoreOthersMeredith Roberts, Senior Director of Strategic Projects, serves as Board Member. Brings purchaser/employer perspective on healthcare quality and costs.
• Multnomah CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2021, PANOW was tapped to rapidly distribute $1.1 million in COVID-19 relief funds on behalf of Multnomah County.
• Kaiser Permanente Community Health Coverage ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPANOW supports Kaiser Permanente's Community Health Coverage Program, helping eligible individuals access subsidized health coverage.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Health Leads: National nonprofit that operates social needs screening and resource navigation programs in partnership with health systems, very similar in model to PANOW's Community Assistance Program. Both organizations function as connectors between clinical care and community-based social services for vulnerable populations.
• United Way of the Columbia-Willamette: Regional United Way serving the Portland metro and Oregon, funding and convening social services and safety-net programs. Directly comparable in mission (addressing social determinants of health, providing benefits navigation and community resources) and geography.
• 211info (Oregon): PANOW's direct partner, 211info is a confidential community resource helpline for Oregon residents. Both organizations are nonprofit, Oregon-based, and connect individuals to housing, food, healthcare, and other social services — the partnership makes them functional peers in service delivery.

Emerging players

• findhelp (formerly Aunt Bertha): Operates a nationwide social care network and benefits navigation platform that connects patients to community resources — overlapping with PANOW's benefits navigation and 211info functions but delivered via a SaaS platform rather than direct service staffing.
• HealthBegins: Social determinants of health-focused nonprofit that works with health systems to redesign care delivery for upstream social needs. Comparable in mission and model to PANOW's CAP and HRSN administration work, but operates as a national consulting and capacity-building partner.

Broad incumbents

• CareOregon: Medicaid managed care organization serving Oregon Health Plan members and a PANOW board member. Comparable in that it administers benefits and coordinates care for vulnerable populations, but operates as a much larger health plan with broader scope.
• Trillium Community Health Plan: Medicaid CCO in Oregon and a PANOW board member. Comparable in serving Medicaid beneficiaries in Oregon and coordinating social and clinical services, though as a health plan rather than a direct service nonprofit.
• Health Net (Oregon): Medicaid managed care plan operating in Oregon that serves similar low-income populations and partners with community-based organizations. Comparable in coordinating benefits and social supports for Medicaid members, though at health-plan scale.

Regional players

• Health Care Without Harm: National nonprofit working at the intersection of healthcare and community/environmental health, addressing social determinants of health. Comparable as a mission-aligned nonprofit serving healthcare and community populations, though focused on environmental/climate health rather than direct service navigation.

Others

• Oregon Primary Care Association: Statewide association supporting Oregon's Federally Qualified Health Centers, including partners on PANOW's board. Comparable as an Oregon-based nonprofit ecosystem player supporting safety-net healthcare and community health services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ProjectAccessNOW
• Facebookfacebook.com/PANOWPDX
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/panow-pdx

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Project Access NOW