Houston, Texas, November 18, 2012 — People and
providers of Houston were invited took an in-depth look at the Affordable Care
Act during the month of September. Over the course of four days, a variety of healthcare experts spoke to members of the community, healthcare
workers, and religious based leaders learned about changes to come to
healthcare and what to
expect when changing the paradigm from “sick care to health care.”
By the end
of the Healthy Lives, Healthy Futures Symposium over 300 Houstonians all agreed
one thing; the issue of healthcare is a people issue and not a political issue. “We need to refocus on health and not disease,”
said Reverend Linda Walling. “This issue transcends partisanship,” she
continued. Walling, Executive Director
of Faithful Reform in HealthCare, reminded the audience of other issues
American citizens first opposed but then later embraced. Issues like child labor laws, a women’s right
to vote and the civil rights of African Americans and minority groups were all
once controversial, political topics.
The new
law brings a “mind, body and soul” approach to healthcare. It is integration rather than receiving care
in silos. It is wellness through prevention instead of treating an illness. Under the mandate of the law healthcare
workers, providers and even congregations are eligible for incentive payments by
improving the health condition of others.
Ron
Cookston, Executive Director, Gateway to Care said the Act would strengthen
Medicare and end the abuse of it. He
said, “A long, long time ago insurance companies could charge women more just
for being women and could deny coverage to breast cancer survivors. A long, long time ago was just one and a half
years ago. “Now, hospitals will get
dinged if patients return within 30 days for the same problem or if the
hospital is at fault.”
Organizations
like Enroll America are working to ensure that all Americans get-and
stay-enrolled in the health care system.
The Enroll America Director of Public Education, Martine Apodaca, said about
60% of insurance shopper need help enrolling in healthcare. The majority of Americans don’t think the health
reform law will help [applies to] them. Whether people are enrolling in
private, commercial, Medicaid, CHIP or a basic health program the enrollment
process should be simple and seamless.
The agencies must coordinate behind the scenes to make the healthcare
exchanges as user friendly as possible.
The
healthcare exchanges are like “Travelocity for insurance,” said Health and
Human Services Regional Director, Marjorie Petty. A health care exchange is like a mall. People
can choose between gold, silver or a platinum level of care. Community centers will receive additional
funding so they may offer services on a sliding scale and by the year 2020 the
“donut hole” of prescription cost for seniors should be completely phased out. The donut hole happens when Medicare stops
covering prescription and seniors have no other option but to pay out of pocket
until Medicare kicks in again after a certain amount is paid.
With only sixteen
months before the law is fully implementation Texas is still one of three
states not engaged in a robust campaign message about the Affordable Care
Act. “We need to help people hear the
non-biased stories of affordable healthcare. What Houston is doing for health reform…this
is what the USA is going to be in ten years.”
No comments:
Post a Comment