Patient Protection
Affordable Care Act
On March 23, 2010, Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act (PPACA) into law. This is the largest healthcare reform since initiation of Medicare in 1965. There has been much controversy and lack of bipartisanship related to PPACA. Some report that not enough information has been communicated to understand reform.
Medicare services, including CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Programs) are being expanded to continue to cover individuals with incomes up to 133% Federal Poverty Level. Based on the chart above the federal services are being utilized by improvised youth.
The Patient Protection Affordable Care Act is providing accessible, quality, affordable care to more Americans. As the program strengthens more individuals will be covered while saving the government and the American taxpayer money. “The Congressional Budget Office found that health insurance reform will reduce the deficit by $210 billion in this decade and by more than $1 trillion over the following 10 years. And a family of four would save as much as $2,300 on their premiums in 2014 compared to what they would have paid without reform (2).
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. (2013 April 23). Focus on health reform. Retrieved from http://kaiserfamilyfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/8061-021.pdf
The White House. (2011). The health care law gives middle class families the security of affordable coverage they deserve and protects every American from the worst insurance company abuses. Retrieved from http://www.whitehouse.gov/snapshots/expanding-access-affordable-health-care
Affordable Care Act
On March 23, 2010, Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act (PPACA) into law. This is the largest healthcare reform since initiation of Medicare in 1965. There has been much controversy and lack of bipartisanship related to PPACA. Some report that not enough information has been communicated to understand reform.
Medicare services, including CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Programs) are being expanded to continue to cover individuals with incomes up to 133% Federal Poverty Level. Based on the chart above the federal services are being utilized by improvised youth.
- Individual states also have the option to expand Medicaid at the state level. (To date, Ohio chose to expand Medicaid, Pen Pennsylvania did not.)
- Health Benefit exchanges will allow individuals to shop for coverage to meet their financial and medical needs.
- Provides dependent coverage for children up to the age of 26. Young adults in college can stay on their parents insurance.
- Reduce waste, fraud and abuse within the healthcare system and insurance companies
- Primary care services (such as mammograms and immunizations) will be covered without the cost of a co-pay.
- Grants will be funded to establish wellness programs. Participation is these programs can result in premium discounts and other incentives.
- Chain restaurants and food sold in vending machines will be required to disclose the nutritional information of each item.
- Value based purchasing focuses on the quality and effectiveness of healthcare services. This will attempt to eliminate wasteful tests, focus on customer satisfaction, and measure the best patient outcomes.
- Insurance coverage cannot deny individuals who need insurance the most. 105 million Americans no longer have lifetime dollar limits on their coverage and more than 17.6 million children with pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied coverage (2).
The Patient Protection Affordable Care Act is providing accessible, quality, affordable care to more Americans. As the program strengthens more individuals will be covered while saving the government and the American taxpayer money. “The Congressional Budget Office found that health insurance reform will reduce the deficit by $210 billion in this decade and by more than $1 trillion over the following 10 years. And a family of four would save as much as $2,300 on their premiums in 2014 compared to what they would have paid without reform (2).
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. (2013 April 23). Focus on health reform. Retrieved from http://kaiserfamilyfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/8061-021.pdf
The White House. (2011). The health care law gives middle class families the security of affordable coverage they deserve and protects every American from the worst insurance company abuses. Retrieved from http://www.whitehouse.gov/snapshots/expanding-access-affordable-health-care