In February of 2007, we came together and laid out a set of key principles for health care reform to which we remained committed through the entire health reform debate.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, enacted on March 24, 2010, substantially addressed each of our principles.
Our principle: We believe every person in america must have quality, affordable health insurance coverage.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Improves Coverage.
32 million uninsured will have coverage by 2019*.
2010-2013
- High-risk individuals can purchase insurance from the "high risk" pool.
- Insurers cannot cancel insurance because you get sick or deny insurance for children's pre-existing condition or impose lifetime/annual caps on coverage.
Beginning in 2014
- Health insurance available for purchase through exchanges for individuals and small businesses.
- Subsidies provided to families and individuals with lower incomes, intended to keep insurance premium costs at under 9% of family income.
*Estimated by the Congressional Budget Office
Our principle: We believe individuals have a responsibility to maintain and protect their health.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Begins to Shift Health Care to a Wellness/Health Perspective.
- Promotes and improves health information and technology for patients and providers.
- Establishes web-based public reporting on quality and performance of health care for consumers.
- Develops and promotes wellness and prevention programs.
- Requires coverage of preventive care services at 100%.
Our principle: We believe that America must dramatically improve the value it receives for every health care dollar.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Establishes Mechanisms and Programs to Improve Health Delivery.
- Establishes a Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute to develop priorities and conduct and promote research to assist patients, providers and purchasers in decision-making.
- Establishes a board to track and evaluate costs and performance of the health care system.
- Create a Chronic Care Management Innovation Center within CMS to disseminate innovations that foster patient-centered care coordination innovations for high-cost, chronically ill Medicare beneficiaries.
- Establishes pilots and demonstrations of ways to pay for care that promote quality and improve outcomes in the Medicare program.
- Require hospitals to report preventable readmission rates; hospitals with high re-admission rates will be required to work with local patient safety organizations to improve their rates.
Our principle: We believe that businesses, governments, and individuals all should contribute to managing and financing a new american health care system.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Requires Contributions and Participation from All Stakeholders.
- Individuals must purchase insurance or pay a fine, starting in 2014.
- Employers (50+ employees) either provide insurance or pay a fee.
- Subsidies or tax credits are provided to individuals, families, and small businesses with lower income/revenues.
- Health care industry, insurers, pharmaceutical, and device companies, pay an excise tax.
- High income individuals/families pay higher payroll taxes.
Why Health Care Now?
by Carl T. Camden
An American Partnership for Universal Coverage
By Andy Stern
Health Care Transformation and CEO Accountability
By Craig Barrett and Peter V. Lee
To achieve this, we have introduced four common sense principles for a new health care system. Learn more
Sign the BHCT Vision Pledge