Health News
Of course, many provisions of the ACA will not take effect until 2014, but several provisions of the law are slated to start in 2012, including:
Also in 2012, it will be important to watch how the implementation of pieces of the ACA that are already in effect will continue, most notably, the establishment of a health benefits exchange in each state. Many states, have already begun the implementation, and are at various stages in the process, such as the 15 states (like Illinois) that have already enacted an exchange or intent of establishment legislature. Other states are working to pass such legislation, and others have not taken any steps towards establishing an exchange, either deferring to the federal government to run their exchanges, or riding on the assumption that the ACA will be struck down in the upcoming Supreme Court case. (See here for a recent news article about the status of the Illinois Exchange).
Happy, Healthy Holidays!
- Update:illinois? Care Coordination And Managed Care System
In January 2011, the Illinois legislature passed a bill that requires 50% of the State?s Medicaid population to be covered in a risk-based care coordination program by 2015. Subsequently, in May 2012, the State Legislature passed the SMART Act, cutting...
- The Affordable Care Act Upheld: Addressing America's Health Care Crisis
Today?s Supreme Court decision in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius means that the Affordable Care Act remains the law of the land. As Chief Justice Roberts said in the majority opinion, Congress has the power to enact the individual...
- Policy To The People - Illinois Policymakers Weigh In About Aca Implementation In Illinois
Health care reform in Illinois may originate from the federal law, the Affordable Care Act, but it is up to each state to implement many pieces of the law. For that reason, we made Illinois' implementation of health care reform the focus of our latest...
- Top Ten Health Care Reform Terms You Should Know (but Were Afraid To Ask...).
On March 23, 2011, we will be celebrating the one year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Although we at Health & Disability Advocates are in the thick of ACA implementation, we know that many Illinoisans still are confused about the law....
- Older Adults And People With Disabilities In Illinois Are Already Benefiting From Health Care Reform
Older adults and people with disabilities in Illinois are concerned about what they?ve been hearing about changes to the Medicare program and other healthcare reforms that affect them and their families. It is often hard to sort out the facts, so many...
Health News
What lies ahead for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2012?
2011, the first full year for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), is coming to a close. As we?ve written about in the past blog posts, Facebook posts, tweets or on our home page, the year saw many ACA developments, from the announcement of the definition of ?essential health benefits? that are guaranteed under the law, to the initial stages of Illinois? health insurance exchange legislation, to the rescission of the CLASS Act. This year also saw the early effects of the law?s impact ? from the young adults who can now stay on their parents? health insurance plan, to the seniors whose prescription drug costs in the Medicare ?doughnut hole? are shrinking, to the people with chronic conditions who are no longer uninsured due to the availability of the state?s federally funded pre-existing condition insurance plan.
Of course, many provisions of the ACA will not take effect until 2014, but several provisions of the law are slated to start in 2012, including:
- A series of demonstration projects designed to strengthen Medicare by eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse;
- The Medicare Independence at Home demonstration, which will test out coordinated care medical teams providing care to certain high-need Medicare patients in their own homes;
Also in 2012, it will be important to watch how the implementation of pieces of the ACA that are already in effect will continue, most notably, the establishment of a health benefits exchange in each state. Many states, have already begun the implementation, and are at various stages in the process, such as the 15 states (like Illinois) that have already enacted an exchange or intent of establishment legislature. Other states are working to pass such legislation, and others have not taken any steps towards establishing an exchange, either deferring to the federal government to run their exchanges, or riding on the assumption that the ACA will be struck down in the upcoming Supreme Court case. (See here for a recent news article about the status of the Illinois Exchange).
There are still many unknowns about the future of the ACA; however, what?s clear from our eight-part Neighborhood Stories series is that we have a lot of work to do to educate the communities in Illinois about the benefits of the law for small businesses, individuals/families and community organizations. Stay tuned to Illinois Health Matters for interactive features in early 2012, to help YOU understand how health care reform will impact you, your family and your community.
Happy, Healthy Holidays!
- Update:illinois? Care Coordination And Managed Care System
In January 2011, the Illinois legislature passed a bill that requires 50% of the State?s Medicaid population to be covered in a risk-based care coordination program by 2015. Subsequently, in May 2012, the State Legislature passed the SMART Act, cutting...
- The Affordable Care Act Upheld: Addressing America's Health Care Crisis
Today?s Supreme Court decision in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius means that the Affordable Care Act remains the law of the land. As Chief Justice Roberts said in the majority opinion, Congress has the power to enact the individual...
- Policy To The People - Illinois Policymakers Weigh In About Aca Implementation In Illinois
Health care reform in Illinois may originate from the federal law, the Affordable Care Act, but it is up to each state to implement many pieces of the law. For that reason, we made Illinois' implementation of health care reform the focus of our latest...
- Top Ten Health Care Reform Terms You Should Know (but Were Afraid To Ask...).
On March 23, 2011, we will be celebrating the one year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Although we at Health & Disability Advocates are in the thick of ACA implementation, we know that many Illinoisans still are confused about the law....
- Older Adults And People With Disabilities In Illinois Are Already Benefiting From Health Care Reform
Older adults and people with disabilities in Illinois are concerned about what they?ve been hearing about changes to the Medicare program and other healthcare reforms that affect them and their families. It is often hard to sort out the facts, so many...