PAAT designated as Certified Application Counselor organization

DALLAS: Pakistan American Association of Texas is designated as "Certified Application Counselor "(CAC) organization by Health and Human Services department.

PAAT with this designation will be counseling and helping community members with enrollment in the newly implemented "Affordable Care Act".

PAAT is the first community organization who has now designated as CAC, said Syed Fayyaz Hassan, the PAATs spokesman.

The healthcare counseling is the community work that is at the top of the organizational charter, the spokesman added.

“The initiative is a gift to Pakistani community by PAAT under the leadership of its President Dr. Amer Suleman. This level of community activism has never been seen in the past by any Pakistani group in the metroplex. We believe that PAAT has set a new standard for community activism”

PAAT President Dr. Dr. Amer Suleman said that the association is thankful to Department of Health and Human Services for recognizing the community as an important segment of American Society.

He said PAAT is in a process to get all its board members and executive committee members trained as Certified Counselors. PAAT will train people from all walks of lives including volunteers from North Texas mosques, and from Christian church members of Pakistani origin.

“We will get our community members trained in this program and will prepare them to help people enroll in the healthcare exchange. Our certified counselor will help in enrollment, in consumer education, validations and even exemptions from the new law. The Certified Application Counselors will help in determination of Medicaid and Child Insurance Program (CHIP) qualifications for low income people.”

As Texas is not offering a state exchange and is not participating in Medicaid expansion program, federal exchanges is the primary source of insurance in this program.

The program includes free preventive services, and includes mental health. There will not be any life time maximum limit in medical services, in the new insurance schemes.

Four categories insurance with bronze, silver, gold and platinum levels will be offered. Consumers will need to buy insurance by December 15th to start coverage by January 1st of 2014 as the first day of service.

PAAT's spokesman Syed Fayyaz Hassan said that PAAT will continue providing solid leadership to Pakistani Americans in North Texas with community services in the core of our activism. PAAT has already undertaken community programs and initiatives including College admission Seminar, Faran Khan memorial scholarship, musical evening with legend ghazal maestro Ustad Salamat Ali of Pakistan, picnic and health fair for seniors, and inauguration of its central office.

The upcoming November 9th program of Iqbal day where we will be presenting Iqbal and Rumi's contribution to literature and philosophy is another program in the pursuit of community representation and education.

“Our leadership including our board and executive committee comprising of Dr. Amer Suleman, Naeem Choudhry, Dr. Javaid Ajmal, Ghulam Warraich, Aftab Siddiqui, Ashar Ahmad, Syed Fayyaz Hassan and Shawkat Choudhry are volunteers with high skills, motivation, education and expertise in community leadership.”

PAAT urges community members to become PAAT members, participate in their programs and volunteer with them to better serve Pakistani American community of North Texas.