Healthcare Reform
CHADD Supports These Thirteen Principles for Healthcare Reform
- A healthcare initiative that provides healthcare coverage for all
Americans.
- Healthcare plans that require “parity” for mental health
assessment and treatment. This includes non-discrimination between
health conditions.
- Healthcare plans must not discriminate on the basis of pre-existing
conditions or health status.
- Healthcare plans must not terminate coverage when people become
seriously ill or are being treated for long-term chronic conditions and
must not have lifetime caps.
- Health plans must not be allowed to charge exorbitant out-of-pocket
deductibles and co-pays.
- A healthcare initiative that allows young adults to stay covered on
their parents’ plan until the age of 26.
- A healthcare initiative that specifically covers young adults, with
a particular focus on young adults with special healthcare needs.
- A healthcare initiative that specifically covers the assessment and
treatment of children, particularly those children with special
healthcare needs.
- A healthcare initiative that requires continued affordable coverage
when one loses or changes jobs.
- A healthcare initiative that includes wellness and prevention
services.
- A healthcare initiative that emphasizes integrated primary
healthcare with specialty services, including promotion of the medical
home concept. This also includes consumer-oriented and
“meaningful” use of electronic medical records and personal
health records.
- A healthcare initiative that allows all citizens a choice of health
plans.
- A healthcare initiative that requires health plans to include
culturally and linguistically appropriate programs and affirmative
provisions dealing with racial and ethnic disparities. This includes
recognition of disability-based health disparities.
New Insurance Finder Web Tool Released
On August 24, 2010, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
announced the release of a new web tool, available for download at HealthCare.gov, that
will make it easier to search for insurance coverage options. “By
putting the power of information at your fingertips, HealthCare.gov is
helping American families everywhere to take control over their health
care and make the choices that are right for them,” said HHS
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. For anyone seeking to understand the new
benefits under the Affordable Care Act, the website is an extremely
valuable resource.
The Insurance Finder widget enables anyone with a
website or blog to embed a tool on their site that allows users to begin
the process of searching for insurance coverage options. After users
answer two questions (“select a state” and “which best
describes you”), they click on "next steps" and are redirected to
a page on HealthCare.gov that continues the process. Based on their
answers to specific questions, the coverage finder provides a
personalized list of coverage choices.
Posted 8/25/10
New Insurance Appeals Regulations
On July 22, 2010, the White House announced new federal regulations to strengthen
patients’ rights to appeal health insurance denials. That same
day, the National Health Council released the following
statement from its president, Myrl Weinberg:
People with chronic conditions make up the largest segment of users
of health care in this country. They require care and treatment that
will allow them to live the healthiest, most productive lives possible.
It is essential that they be able to obtain and retain coverage and care
that meet their individual health care needs.
The steps taken today by the Obama Administration will provide
patients with an understandable, predictable internal and external
appeals process. It’s the right thing to do. It's a fair solution
for patients—particularly those living with chronic diseases and
disabilities.
We are also pleased that $30 million has been allocated for
strengthening state-based consumer assistance offices. This is a
critical step to improving patient awareness of their rights.
Posted August 16, 2010
HHS Secretary Sebelius Announces Pre-Existing Condition Insurance
Plan
On July 1, 2010, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the establishment of a new
Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP). The plan will make
temporary coverage available to Americans who have been uninsured for at
least six months and who are unable to obtain health coverage because of
a pre-existing health condition. The PCIP will be in effect now through
2014, when the new health insurance exchanges are established.
Twenty-nine states plus the District of Columbia have decided to
administer the plan themselves, and twenty-one states elected to have
HHS administer their plans.
Posted July 5, 2010
The New Healthcare Reform Law
Read blogs by former CHADD CEO E. Clarke Ross that review the
law:
Added June 22, 2010
Page updated 7/12/12
