The Affordable Care Act and LGBT Older Adults Discussion Guide

“The Affordable Care Act may represent the strongest foundation we have ever created to begin closing LGBT health disparities.” –U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius Introduction: The Affordable Care Act and LGBT Older Adults

On Wednesday, May 22, Pfizer and SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders) co-hosted a panel discussion on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its impact on older Americans, in particular LGBT older adults. The ACA has the potential to dramatically improve health care for LGBT older people by expanding coverage, strengthening consumer rights and protections, improving data collection efforts and more. The panel featured:  Catherine Thurston, Senior Director of Programs, SAGE (moderator)  Raul Damas, Senior Director of US Policy, Pfizer  Joe Baker, President, Medicare Rights Center  Jay Laudato, Executive Director, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center Introduction: The Affordable Care Act and LGBT Older Adults

 Next up we have three videos from the panel followed by a set of suggested discussion questions. We will watch each video and then have a short group discussion followed by the next video and more discussion and so on. The last video is the question and answer from the live event. Presentation and Discussion Flow

What is one thing you keep hearing about the Affordable Care Act that interests or concerns you?

Welcome from Ken Cole

Ken makes the statement, “By taking charge of the inevitable process of getting older, we can get old on our own terms.”  What does getting older on your own terms mean to you?  What empowers you about getting older? Video 1 Discussion Questions

Panel Discussion on ACA

Overview of the ACA—Raul Damas, Pfizer Raul mentions the following goals of the ACA: 1) Increase coverage 2) Improve quality 3) Reduce cost  Based on what you know about the ACA, do the goals Raul Damas mentions seem achievable? Will you be pleasantly surprised?  From what you have gathered from the news, is your state doing a good job providing information about state and federal health exchanges or a poor job? How could they improve their outreach to the LGBT community? Video 2 Discussion Questions: Part 1

Medicaid—Joe Baker, Medicare Rights Center  Joe said primarily poorer folks will be covered under the Affordable Care Act’s Medicare provision. Is this a goal that we as a society should support? Why or why not?  Are you surprised to learn that Medicare is not significantly altered by the ACA? Video 2 Discussion Questions: Part 2

Medicaid—Joe Baker, Medicare Rights Center (cont.)  For people over 65, the Medicare donut hole (the gap in Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage) is closing by Is this significant to you or anyone you know?  What about the added benefit of a covered wellness visit? Will this motivate you to get more regular care? What would keep you from taking advantage of a covered wellness visit? Video 2 Discussion Questions: Part 3

LGBT Community—Jay Laudato, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center  Jay notes that for a person with $20,000 in yearly income, the cost sharing could amount to $3,000. Does this seem like a lot, a little or about right?  How can our LGBT community advocate for HIV coverage and transgender health coverage? Who would you talk to? What would you say? Video 2 Discussion Questions: Part 4

Audience Q&A

 Were you surprised to hear that million Americans will be uninsured even after the ACA is implemented?  Jay says he is very excited about the ACA. Based on this webinar, why do you think he is excited? Video 3 Discussion Questions

 What do you think about Joe’s suggestion to ask your doctor, “Is there a plan for me?” Is that a comfortable question for you to ask?  Jay says to think about how much health care you use. How do you begin to decide how much health care you use? Would you count cost or number of visits or something else? Is it a relief to learn that you can change health care plans after a year?  Raul notes that the success of the ACA depends in part on people signing up for health insurance who are the least likely to use it. What would you say to a person who does not currently need health insurance to convince them to get it? Final Discussion Questions: Choosing a Plan

Pfizer Helpful Answers— Pfizer Patient Assistance Program For Additional Support: Helpline—Medicare Rights Center Consumer Assistance Program—The Center for Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight Listings by state: Health Insurance Marketplace— U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Resources Referenced in Videos: Part 1

Medicare Compare—Medicare Medicare Interactive—Center for Medicare Rights Health Care Subsidy Calculator—Kaiser Family Foundation Resources Referenced in Videos: Part 2

Speaker Bios Catherine Thurston (moderator) Catherine Thurston, LCSW, is the Senior Director for Programs at Services & Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Elders (SAGE), where she oversees all social services and community-based programming. Since coming to SAGE, Catherine has overseen the launches of both the nation’s first federally-funded National Resource Center on LGBT Aging as well as the nation’s first senior center devoted to LGBT older adults. Catherine holds a Masters in Social Work from Hunter College. Joe Baker, President, Medicare Rights Center Joe Baker has been President of the Medicare Rights Center since June Mr. Baker is a member of the Institute of Medicine’s Board on Health Care Services and Committee on Geographic Variation in Health Care Spending and Promotion of High-Value Care. He also serves on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education. He is an adjunct professor at the New York University School of Law, where he teaches a class on implementation of the Affordable Care Act. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law. Raul Damas, Senior Director of US Policy, Pfizer Raul Damas is the Senior Director of US Policy at Pfizer, where he leads the development of policy initiatives that advance public health alongside Pfizer’s commercial objectives. He is an experienced public affairs professional with a background that includes public policy, lobbying, grassroots advocacy, political campaigns, and public relations. Raul is a graduate of Villanova University, holds an MPM from the George Washington University and an MBA from Columbia University. Jay Laudato, Executive Director, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center Jay Laudato has nearly 30 years of non-profit healthcare administration experience. He is currently serving his second time as the Executive Director of Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, New York City’s largest LGBT-focused health center. Prior to this, Jay held the positions of Director of Managed Care and Assistant Director in the Division of Financial Planning and Policy at the New York State Department of Health. Jay’s first tenure as Callen-Lorde’s Executive Director from 2000–2007 saw the center’s patient base and services provided greatly expanded and solidified its reputation for providing quality, sensitive healthcare to those most in need. Jay holds a Master's degree in Social Work.

For more information, visit:  sageusa.org  GetOld.com Thank you for attending!