Health Beyond Health Care
Chris Allen, CEO of the Health Authority, was part of a panel discussion called “Health Beyond Health Care,” presented by the Washington Post on June 18. You can see the interview here:
Chris Allen, CEO of the Health Authority, was part of a panel discussion called “Health Beyond Health Care,” presented by the Washington Post on June 18. You can see the interview here:
The Detroit Wayne County Health Authority Board of Directors approved the following resolution at its regular meeting on April 24, 2013:
Whereas, the Detroit Wayne County Health Authority was established to provide access to health care for all people; and
Whereas, many uninsured adults neglect routine health and dental care until their conditions become emergent, requiring expensive care; and
Whereas, an estimated 125,000 people in Wayne County are currently uninsured; and
Whereas, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act provides for the expansion of the Medicaid program to cover most of uninsured adults; and
Whereas, Gov. Snyder has endorsed the expansion of Medicaid in Michigan as a prudent measure that is affordable and will improve the quality of life for all; and
Whereas, Michigan stands to be one of only a few states in the nation that deprives vulnerable citizens with basic health and dental care coverage; and
Be it resolved, that the Detroit Wayne County Health Authority Board of Directors, acting on behalf of our member organizations and the citizens of Detroit and Wayne County, strongly urge our State Legislature to authorize Medicaid expansion.
KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION LAUNCHES ONLINE HEALTH REFORM SOURCE TO EXPLAIN, ANALYZE AND TRACK THE NEW LAWS IMPLEMENTATION New Initial Features Include Animated Movie Explaining the Law, Policy and Public Opinion Monitoring, and State-Specific Data |
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MENLO PARK, Calif. — Nearly six months since the signing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and as some key provisions are due to be implemented, the Kaiser Family Foundation today launched an online gateway providing easy access to new and comprehensive resources on the health reform law. Recognizing the transition from the debate about passage to the realities of implementing a law, the Health Reform Source, http://healthreform.kff.org, has many new features that provide explanations of the basics of the law, in-depth analysis of policy issues in implementation, and quick and easy access to relevant data, studies and developments.
The Source features the premiere of “Health Reform Hits Main Street,” a new animated short movie designed to explain the health reform law to an American public still confused by how it works. Written and produced by the Foundation, the animated movie features narration by Cokie Roberts, ABC News and NPR news commentator and a member of the Foundations Board of Trustees. The movie has three major sections: explaining problems in the current health care system, short-term changes that will take place between now and 2014, and major provisions that will take effect in 2014.
Another new feature, The Scan, provides a daily feed of easily-digestible summaries of the latest research and studies from the Foundation and others, as well as official actions and other developments related to the health law. The site also features the Foundations Twitter entries on health care reform and links to Kaiser Health News stories to provide U.S. policymakers, journalists, the health care policy community and the general public easy access to timely information about the law.
“We will continue to update and expand the information we provide through the Health Reform Source as implementation ramps up over the next several years,” Kaiser Family Foundation President and CEO Drew Altman. “The Source will be the place where people can go to understand how the new health law really works, and for the latest policy information from us and others.”
The Health Reform Source will also feature ongoing and future research and analysis on the health law conducted by Foundation experts, with a special area of emphasis on the 50 states as they proceed with the implementation of the law with varying approaches and results. As more provisions of the law are implemented, the Foundation will add explanatory, basic information, summaries of the changes and new analyses.
Other new elements available on the Source include:
A customizable Implementation Timeline which presents a detailed list of major provisions that can be viewed by year or by topic.
A series of Video Explainer clips of Foundation experts answering specific questions about the law on a variety of health policy topics.
An interactive state map of the U.S. that features pop-up boxes of key state-specific information related to health coverage and the health law, and links to new health reform pages on the Foundations statehealthfacts.org featuring key data, reports, and news for each state.
The Public Opinion: Poll Watch featuring a weekly round-up of surveys from the Foundation and others assessing public attitudes and experiences over time related to the health reform law.
The Foundations updated Health Reform Subsidy Calculator to illustrate premiums, government subsidies and out-of-pocket costs for people eligible for health coverage in exchanges due to be established in 2014.
An Official Document Finder that provides quick access to federal regulations and studies related the health law.
A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) database addressing questions about the health law.
Government Resources provide links to federal government websites that provide information to consumers and regulatory guidance about the provisions of the law.
Kaisers Health Reform Source can be viewed online at http://healthreform.kff.org and you can subscribe to alerts via email and RSS feeds. Additionally, the Foundation has established a Facebook page for the Health Reform Source which will feature additional related material.
Content on the site will be continually updated, and new features will be added in the coming weeks and months, including an interactive tool that will illustrate how reform affects different groups of people, video profiles showing the experiences of real people and businesses, and a primer on the health reform law.
The Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit private operating foundation, based in Menlo Park, California, dedicated to producing and communicating the best possible analysis and information on health issues.
Since Barack Obama’s election as the 44th President there are early signs of what direction the new administration and Congress will pursue in reforming the American health care system. The early signs come from the people that Team Obama has tapped for leadership posts and actions in Congress that will push the new administration toward health care reform.
There are two major developments on the personnel level in transition to the Obama Administration. First, the rumored appointment of former Sen. Tom Daschle as Secretary of Health and Human Services signals both the high visibility of health care in the new administration and the recognition that any reform will require a skilled political negotiator. Daschle’s experience as the Senate’s Democratic Leader and his new book on health care reform, “Critical: What Can We Do About the Health-Care Crisis” provide a rare combination of political and policy acumen.
Should he be confirmed, Daschle is likely to pursue a philosophy he outlined in his book. A major recommendation of the book is the creation of a health care board, similar in structure and function to the Federal Reserve Board, which would offer a public framework within which a private health-care system can operate more effectively and efficiently – insulated from political pressure yet accountable to elected officials and the American people. Other recommendations include:
Second, and perhaps more significant substantively, is the appointment of John Podesta as co chair of the transition team. Podesta is the head of the Center for American Progress (CAP), which has produced most of the policy briefing papers that President-elect Obama and his staff are using as guides to forming the new administration. In health care, CAP documents call for both short term and long term changes.
Short term recommendations are aimed at addressing the economic and racial inequalities that exist in America’s health care system. The first short term step is passage of the 2007 Children’s Health and Medicare Protection Act (CHAMP), which expanded children’s access to health insurance and provided for greater emphasis on primary and preventive services in Medicaid and Medicare. Another step is reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act. This act should include employment, retention and training services for health care workers, especially allied health professionals, long term care workers and nurses. Investment in the National Health Service Corps should also be increased and target to underserved areas.
Long term recommendations from CAP documents are aimed at reducing complexity in the current system. For example, eligibility standards, payment policies and benefits for Medicare, Medicaid, and The Veteran’s Administration health programs are set by law and administrative rules, which makes them inconsistent inflexible and unable to adopt current best practices for access, quality and value purchasing. Building a framework that can simplify and outline key operating parameters for all federal health programs will provide long term change in American’s health care.
Recent actions in the House of Representatives and the Senate make it clear that congress intends to push the Obama administration on health care reform. Sen. Ted Kennedy’s publicized return to work is a signal of his desire to produce health reform legislation quickly. Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus has also drafted a proposal for national health care that follows many of the elements in the Obama Campaign documents. The Baucus proposal goes beyond the Obama health plan by mandating health insurance coverage. Both of these senators want to produce legislation when Congress reconvenes in January.
In the House of Representatives, the decision to make Henry Waxman chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee (where health care legislation will be considered) is a sign of increase power for the Democratic party’s liberal wing, which has made health care reform a high priority. Chairman Waxman can be expected to push very hard for significant health care reform. The increased Democratic majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives makes health care reform more likely.
If you have questions or comments on this article please contact Dr. James Chesney, Primary Care Resource Center and Health Policy consultant, by email at Jchesney@policyinitiativesconsultinggroup.com.