The Health Care Law and

U. S. Department of Health & Human Services Pamela Roshell, PhD, MSW Regional Director Region IV Atlanta, Georgia Affordable Care Act 2

Mission: At the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), our mission is to improve the health, safety and well being of the American people. 3 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Insurance companies could take advantage of you and turn away the 129 million Americans with pre-existing conditions. Premiums had more than doubled over the last decade, while insurance company profits were soaring. Tens of millions were underinsured, and many who had coverage were afraid of losing it. And 50 million Americans had no insurance at all. The Problem

In March 2010, President Obama signed into law the Affordable Care Act. The Health Care Law

Ends the worst insurance company abuses Makes health insurance more affordable Strengthens Medicare Provides better options for coverage What the Law Means for You: 4 Things to Know

TODAY, it is illegal for insurance companies to: Deny coverage to children because of a pre- existing condition like asthma or diabetes. Put a lifetime cap on how much care they will pay for if you get sick. Cancel your coverage when you get sick by finding a mistake on your paperwork. And more… The Law Stops Insurance Companies from Taking Advantage of You

 Cancer screenings such as mammograms & colonoscopies  Vaccinations such as flu, mumps & measles  Blood pressure screening  Cholesterol screening  Tobacco cessation counseling and interventions  Birth control  Depression screening  And more… Visit for a full list. The Law Makes Health Insurance More Affordable In many cases, you can get preventive services for free:

BEFORE, insurance companies spent as much as 40 cents of every premium dollar on overhead, marketing, and CEO salaries. TODAY, the new 80/20 rule says insurance companies must spend at least 80 cents of your premium dollar on your health care or improvements to care. If they don’t, they must repay the money. The Law Makes Health Insurance More Affordable 60% / 40% 80% / 20%

For millions of Americans who buy their own coverage, lose their coverage, or have no coverage at all, the law provides better options. The Law Provides Better Options for Getting Coverage

Young adults under the age of 26 can now stay on their parents’ health plans. There are new plans in every state for people who have been locked out of the insurance market because of a pre-existing condition like cancer or heart disease. For more, visit The Law Provides Better Options for Getting Coverage

Starting in 2014: Discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions or because they are women will be illegal. There will be new State-based marketplaces – called Affordable Insurance Exchanges – where you’ll have a choice of private plans. Tax credits will make buying insurance more affordable. So no matter what happens, you’ll have access to affordable health insurance. The Law Provides Better Options for Getting Coverage

The Law Increases Access to Care There are thousands of new doctors and nurses in communities around the country and millions more patients getting care.

Ends the worst insurance company abuses Makes health insurance more affordable Strengthens Medicare Provides better options for coverage 4 Things to Remember About the Law

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Natalia Cales Regional Outreach Specialist U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Region IV) 61 Forsyth St., SW Atlanta, GA Region IV - AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN Office: (404) Fax: (404) Follow us on Contact Info:

U. S. Department of Health & Human Services Administration for Children & Families, Region IV Atlanta, Georgia Affordable Care Act (Overview of the Administration for Children & Families) 18

Presenter Carlis Williams Southeast Regional Administrator Administration for Children and Families U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Atlanta, Georgia 19

THE ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), located within the Department of Health and Human Services, provides national leadership and direction for the administration of comprehensive and supportive programs for vulnerable children and families. 20

WHAT ARE THE PROGRAM SERVICES? ACF brings together a broad range of over 60 Federal programs that promote the economic and social well being of families, children, individuals and communities. Major program services include: –TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) –Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) –Child Support Enforcement –Child Welfare –Developmental Disabilities –Runaway and Homeless Youth –Head Start –Community Services Block Grant 21

TANF (TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY FAMILIES) and the AFC TANF provides time- limited assistance to needy families with children to: –promote work –responsibility –self-sufficiency 22

CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT FUND (CCDF) Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) assists low- income families, families receiving temporary public assistance, and those transitioning from public assistance, in obtaining child care so they can work or attend educational training. 23

CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT Child Support Enforcement program seeks to ensure that parents provide emotional and financial support for their children. Services provided include: –Locating non-custodial parents –Establishing paternity and child support orders –Establishing and enforcing medical support orders –Securing/distributing regular and timely child support payments 24

CHILD WELFARE Child Welfare focuses on the national goals of safety, permanency and the well being of children: –Foster care/Adoption Assistance –Independent Living Program –Family Preservation and Family Support Services –Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention and Treatment –Promoting Safe and Stable Families 25

RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH Runaway and Homeless Youth Program (RHY) began in 1974, in response to concern about increasing numbers of runaway youth who were exposed to exploitation and the dangers of street life. It has subsequently been expanded to: – assist homeless youth on short-term basis – assist homeless youth in making the transition to independent living – assist homeless youth with drug education and prevention services 26

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILTIES Developmental Disabilities Program assists individuals with developmental disabilities to reach maximum potential through increased independence, productivity and community integration. Funding to support these services is provided to State Developmental Disabilities Councils, Protection and Advocacy Programs, University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and to Projects of National Significance. 27

HEAD START Head Start is a national program which provides comprehensive developmental services for America’s low-income, preschool children ages three to five and social services for their families. The Head Start Act Amendments of 1994 established the Early Head Start program, which expands the benefits of early childhood development to low income families with children under three and to pregnant women. 28

Tribal Maternal, Infant, ad Early Childhood Home Visiting Program The Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Programs are authorized by Section 511 of Title V, as added by the Affordable Care Act,. Authorizes the award grants to Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations or Urban Indian Organizations to operate evidence-based home visiting programs in at-risk Tribal communities. Home visiting services provided under this grant are meant to improve child and family outcomes focusing on areas such as prenatal, maternal, and infant health, child health and development, parenting skills, school readiness, and family socio- economic status, and reduce incidence of child abuse and neglect, injuries, crime, and domestic violence. 29

ACF Program Initiatives ASSETS. Positive Youth Development Healthy Marriage (AAHMI, Hispanic, Asian Pacific and Native American). Responsible Fatherhood Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Human Trafficking 30

For More Information about the Administration for Children & Families: Visit our Website at:

Improving Racial and Ethnic Minority Health Status (Provisions of the Affordable Care Act) Dr. Arlene Lester Regional Minority Health Consultant US Department of Health and Human Services Region IV – Atlanta, GA National Association for State Community Service Programs - September 13, 2012

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Disparities Provisions  Improve access, affordability and quality of care  Focus on prevention and wellness  Lays a strong foundation for reducing health disparities  Includes specific provisions related to disparities reduction and health equity 35

ACA Provisions Impacting Health Disparities 36 Source: Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

37 “For the first time, the United States has a coordinated road map designed to give everyone the chance to live a healthy life.” - HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius

38 NPA Purpose : To mobilize a nationwide, comprehensive, and community-driven approach to combating health disparities. Five Goals of the NPA : Awareness Leadership Health System and Life Experience Cultural and Linguistic Competency Data, Research, and Evaluation

NPA GOALS 39 FunctionGoal AWARENESS: Increase awareness and understanding of the major health problems and needs of racial and ethnic minorities and the nature and extent of health disparities Lay the foundation for responsive policy and program action DATA: Promote the collection of health data by racial and ethnic categories and strengthen infrastructures for data collection Provide a sound basis for decision- making PARTNERSHIPS AND NETWORKS: Establish and strengthen partnerships, networks, and coalitions Identify and solve problems and concerns affecting the health of racial and ethnic minorities POLICIES, PROGRAMS, AND PRACTICES: Review, analysis, comment, and active involvement in existing policy development, as well as the initiation, development, coordination, and implementation of new initiatives and activities Affect policies, programs, and practices to address the health of racial and ethnic minorities and to eliminate health disparities RESEARCH, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND EVALUATION: Foster research, demonstrations, scientific investigations, and evaluation of interventions aimed at improving the health of racial and ethnic minorities Determine model approaches, best practices, and program and intervention effectiveness

40 National Stakeholder Strategy (NSS) for Achieving Health Equity : A product of the NPA that offers 20 specific strategies for reaching NPA goals and assists federal, regional, tribal, state, and local stakeholders in adopting effective strategies for their communities.