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National Health Reform: What it means for NH Consumers & Small Businesses

National Health Reform: What it means for NH Consumers & Small Businesses. Lisa Kaplan Howe North Country Health Consortium Rural Health Reform Conference June 11, 2010. About NH Voices for Health.

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National Health Reform: What it means for NH Consumers & Small Businesses

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  1. National Health Reform: What it means for NH Consumers & Small Businesses Lisa Kaplan Howe North Country Health Consortium Rural Health Reform Conference June 11, 2010

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. Making Coverage More Affordable • Reigns in excessive and wastefulcosts • 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. Other Investments • Health care cost control • Health care quality • Health care equity • Public health • Health care workforce

  9. Next Steps: Staying Involved as the Work Continues • Protecting against repeal • Implementation • Federal • State • Educating the public

  10. For More Information… • NH Voices for Health: www.nhvoicesforhealth.orgjoin our mailing lists for updates and information about our public meetings • HealthReform.gov • Kaiser Health Reform Gateway: www.healthreform.kff.org

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