Health Care Reform
Health Reform Provides Needed Relief to Washington State
Throughout the health care reform debate, we advocated for comprehensive health care reform and for additional funding to help states contend with rising demand for programs and decreasing revenues. Landmark health care reform legislation was signed into law in March 2010. Some reforms have already been implemented, others will take place over the next two years and culminate with sweeping coverage expansions in January 2014, which will provide close to one million more Washingtonians with access to affordable coverage. Washington benefited quickly from the new law, with the receipt of federal Medicaid funding to help shore up the Basic Health and Medical Care Services (formerly Disability Lifeline) programs. While the majority of changes will take place in January 2014, there have been a number of specific benefits that Washingtonians have already realized:
Seniors – Beginning in 2010, the ACA began providing rebate checks and discounts on prescription drugs to close the so-called “donut hole” for seniors on Medicare. In 2010, 62,660 people with Medicare in Washington received the $250 rebate to help cover the cost of their prescription drugs and in 2011, 60,209 people with Medicare received a 50 percent discount on their covered brand-name prescription drugs when they hit the donut hole. These discounts will increase over time until the donut hole is completely closed in 2020.
Prioritizing Preventive Care – In 2011, 653,723 people with Medicare in Washington received free preventive services – such as mammograms and colonoscopies – or a free annual wellness visit with their doctor. More than 1 million Washingtonians with private health insurance gained preventive service coverage with no cost-sharing.
Children and Young Adults – Beginning September 1, 2010, health insurance coverage was made available to unmarried dependents up to the age of 26 and children cannot be denied coverage or treatment due to pre-existing conditions, to lower costs for people with pre-existing conditions to purchase coverage. As of June 2011, 52,186 young adults in Washington gained insurance coverage as a result of the new health care law
Individuals with pre-existing conditions – Federal funding allowed the state to create a new high risk pool, the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan. As of the end of 2011, 708 previously uninsured residents of Washington who were locked out of the coverage system because of a pre-existing condition are now insured through a new Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan that was created under the new health reform law.
Community Health Centers – Over $66 million has flowed into Washington State’s community health centers as a result of the health reform law, with more expected in the coming years.
Despite these gains and the expectation of many other improvements to come, there have been a number of legal challenges to the health reform law. The Supreme Court will be hearing a number of these arguments in March 2012. If you would like to know more about the legal challenges and the process, check out this resource from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Whatever the outcome of the Supreme Court hearings, the Community Health Network of Washington is committed to seeking more affordable coverage for all our state’s residents and reforming the health care delivery system to ensure that care is delivered more efficiently and effectively in the future.
Click here for a summary of our priorities for health care reform and their outcomes.
