Debra Ness, President, National Partnership
Six months ago today, President Obama signed the health care bill into law. And with his signature, our health care system was opened up for renovation. But, like any remodeling job, we’ve got a long way to go before the final product will be ready for a ribbon cutting ceremony.
So, why is the six month anniversary of the Affordable Care Act important? Because today some key provisions in the law go into effect – and that means it’s time to take stock of where we are and where we’re going. Meaningful implementation of the health reform law – implementation that focuses on what’s best for patients and families – in the months and years ahead is critical. But there is already much to celebrate.
Consider that we’ve already seen important patient protections put into place so that insurance companies can’t deny or drop your coverage based on your age, gender, or pre-existing conditions. And, starting now, any new private health plans will cover the full cost of preventive health services like cancer screenings. On January 1st, cost-sharing for preventive services under Medicare will be eliminated. This means people will be able to access the most basic health care – the kind of care that can help identify disease early or prevent it altogether.
Today we can also celebrate the first steps towards improving care coordination and rewarding good primary care. The Afffordable Care Act increases payment for primary care providers in Medicare and Medicaid which will help ensure that patients have better access to primary and preventive care. The law also lays the groundwork for improving coordination of care by testing new and innovative approaches to delivering health care to promote higher quality, improve communication and collaboration among providers, ensure safer and smoother transitions when patients move across different settings of care, and provide more time, support and information for patients and family caregivers. It also supports medication management services to reduce adverse interactions and medication errors — which will especially help patients and families who are managing multiple chronic conditions.
These improvements, coupled with the funding for improving health care through better health information technology (IT) under the stimulus package passed in January of 2009, will create better patient outcomes and reduce costly duplication and waste.
And just as these new policies are being put into place, longer-term strategies required by the new law are being developed and rolled out. Just last week, the Obama Administration issued a core element for the implementation of health reform: a national strategy for health care quality improvement. The National Partnership for Women & Families and the Campaign for Better Care are at the table and ready to help shape this important strategy to make sure it truly meets the needs of patients and consumers. In the end, we’re hopeful that this new plan will help reduce health disparities, increase positive health outcomes, and improve patient and caregiver experiences in the health care system.
We’re off to a good start, but our efforts to make the health care system work for patients and families are just beginning. When doctors can spend enough time with their patients – and when they talk to each other to manage our care better – we will all benefit. We will be less likely to experience bad drug interactions or unnecessary and duplicate tests. Our medical records will be at our fingertips – and available to our health care providers so that they have the whole picture when treating us. We will be less likely to suffer from preventable medical errors that can result in injury or even death. And we won’t have to fend for ourselves or our loved ones in an uncoordinated and fragmented system.
These things are the foundation of a good health care system and, ultimately, a healthy population. It will take some time – as any renovation does – but in the end it will finally get us to a health care system that delivers the comprehensive, coordinated, high quality care that everyone deserves.
While I support President Obama’s health care reform, as a senior on Medicare, I am disappointed with the help we are getting. The $250. I received this year does not even cover the cost of one of my prescriptions. I went in the donut hole in May this year—every year it gets earlier. Next year I will “only” pay 50% of the price of drugs, but can I count on the costs remaining the same? And even 50% is a large sum for most of us.
As a widowed, retired teacher, I am not eligible for my husband’s social security, (WEP). Before I entered the classroom, I was a stay at home mom. I retired at age 63 with 23 years so my STRS benefit is modest. With my limited income, the drug cost is way out of line. I wish President Obama would have given seniors more consideration.
So far so good. I agree that the health care plan needs further work but I’m pleased about the changes that will occur as of now.
Could you tell me when people who don’t get medical insurance from their job can go into a group setting where they will pay like they are in a group policy?
Happy happy happy that the USA is finally using it`s medical knowledge, the best in world, for the benefit of the people… Doesn`t it say something like thet in the constitution: A government or health system of the people, by the people and for the people!!
Where are the supports for breastfeeding women/children in these preventative services? Most women initiate breastfeeding but need the support of a visiting nurse or lactation consultant in the hospital and at home.. Hospitals don’t provide lactation consultant services because they cannot bill for them. What are the provisions for payment for lactation services since this is primary prevention in its essence?
How sad that today should be a day of celebration, and notice from everyone, that we are a little better protected from greedy, unfair, health providers and the silence is almost deafening.
Thank you President Obama and the Democratic Congress for bringing this legislation through. There is no way that I will forget the obstructionism by the Republicans in Congress towards the health care reform. There is no way that I want to go back to the Bush/Cheney eight years of horror & dictatorship. There is no way that I am voting for any Republican, TPers or Libertarian that is running. I want to give President Obama and the Democratic Congress another couple of years and maybe we can improve things all the way around. The next thing I want to see improve is all out legislation to remove all fossil fuel subsidies and give 100% subsidies to alternative fuel.
This is the most calm, positive, and effective approach that we can understand. There’s more to go, and more to do, but this analysis is helpful and important. It helps us realize that we have created some of the promises that the “other people” have tried to unseat the progress we’ve made. Thanks.
I am glad to see this Affordable Care Act is in it’s sixth month, that prayerfully people will see the effects. When you go to the Dr.’s office and all your information is right at hand, if you have done anything (ie. like I went to my Dr. on Sept. 1, and on Friday Sept. 3 I went to WalMart and had a Flu shot) all I had to do is tell my Dr. at a later visit and he entered it in my record on the computer. I help people with Medicare D and Medicare Advantage Plans, and I see what happens when a person goes into the donut hole. I know eventually (I may not live to see it) but by 2020 this will be done away with is a blessing, just so sorry it couldn’t have happened before then. I try to keep the people that I come in contact with the Truth about the whole situation not something that a politician wants you to hear that is erroneous and full of untruths. I am glad that I have done this during the years I have volunteered and it is good for the people know that I would not intentionally stir them in the wrong directions. Thanks again to Pres. Obama for his good works, even though he has to fight to get the American People what they need for the opposition from the other side and some of his own party, but he is in this position for such a time as this to let the Americans and the whole world know that you can do the right thing even though it seems the cards are stacked against. Racism needs to leave the Congressman’s hearts in order for all to survive.
Thanks so much President Obama for working so hard to pass our Health Care Bill. May God guide you in reaching the ignorant people who are easily brain washed by our wealthy population who refuse to pay taxes to help the poor and the disabled. May God Bless America.
Norma Harper Doane
Thank God for this legislation…pray for our President and the congress during these contentious times….desperate people (Republicans) do desperate things….
I recently tried to get group health insurance for our small, (9 employees) non-profit agency. To my dismay, every quote I got kept going up. The final quote I received was over $62,000 annully with a $1500 deductible to over $43,000 annually with a $5000 deductible. Our annual payroll is only $140,000. We just could not afford to pay this. I had really hoped the new changes in health care would help us.