National Health Reform: What it means for NH Consumers

& Small Businesses

Lisa Kaplan HoweNorth Country Health Consortium Rural Health Reform Conference

June 11, 2010

About NH Voices for Health• A network of advocacy organizations,

consumers & small businesses committed to expanding access to quality, affordable health care• Representing 200,000 consumers statewide• Our activities:• Convening stakeholders• Sharing information and promoting a public dialog• Expanding the state’s advocacy capacity• Advancing savvy and meaningful policy changes on

the state and federal level

Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act: A Historic Milestone

• A century in the making• Builds on & strengthens our current health care

system• Strengthens and expands coverage options• Makes coverage more affordable• Makes coverage more stable & higher quality• Invests in health care cost control, quality,

workforce, public health & equity

Strengthening and Expanding Coverage Options

• Strengthens public programs• Medicaid – Federal funding for expanded eligibility and improved

reimbursement• Medicare – Improved preventive care, closing the donut hole and

extending the solvency of the trust fund• CHIP / Healthy Kids Silver – Extended & increased federal funding• Streamlined enrollment

• Expands access to private coverage• Can keep the coverage you have• Access regardless of health status / history• Extended family coverage for young adults• Improved access / choice through the Exchange

Making Coverage More Affordable• Reigns in excessive and wasteful costs– Promotes preventive care & efficiency– Strengths premium rate review– Limits administrative spending

• Makes premium charges more equitable• Provides assistance for working families and small

businesses– Individual premium subsidies & cost-sharing

assistance– Small business tax credits & grants

Making Coverage More Stable & Higher Quality

• No benefit limits• No rescissions• Waiting periods limited• “Essential health benefits” package• Cost-sharing limited & no cost-sharing for

preventive services• Transparency of information

Shared Responsibility

• Based on the notions that:– The system works best when everyone is in it– We have an employer-based coverage system

• Must purchase coverage if it’s affordable to you– Various exemptions and waivers

• Expectation that employers provide coverage– Does not apply to small employers

Other Investments

• Health care cost control • Health care quality• Health care equity• Public health• Health care workforce

Next Steps: Staying Involved as the Work Continues

• Protecting against repeal• Implementation–Federal–State

• Educating the public

For More Information…• NH Voices for Health:

www.nhvoicesforhealth.org join our mailing lists for updates and information about our public meetings

• HealthReform.gov • Kaiser Health Reform Gateway:

www.healthreform.kff.org