1. August 1, 2012 Title The Affordable Care Act Subtitle: an interview with Margaret Stapleton by Margaret Stapleton

2. Q#1-Just what is the ACA? Public Law 11-148; The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (3/23/2010). Public Law 11-151; The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (3/30/2010) Amends hundreds of sections of the USC

3. Q#2—Big deal? Most important piece of American social justice legislation of the last 50 years. In 2008, health care was the top issue among American voters, until the financial meltdown of the fall 2008 crowded out all other concerns. 100 years coming.

4. Q#3—What’s the big picture? America’s health care system was broken—but lots of good ideas from smart people were ready and waiting for use. ACA addresses all the issues that need fixing, including: Uninsured and underinsured Americans Cost of care and affordability of coverage Capacity Quality –UninsuUnr

5. Q#4—Uninsured and underinsured? Amended Medicaid to fill the gap in categories—”the newly eligible.” Reformed private health insurance for individuals and groups. Created affordable insurance for people with pre-existing conditions. Created marketplaces for purchasing insurance-- Affordable Insurance Exchanges. Defined benefits (“essential health benefits”)

6. Q#5—How does ACA address cost and affordability? ? Cost of care—dozens of reforms, including: electronic medical records; coordinated care entities; preventive care (without copayments); See Title III—Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Health Care. Affordability of coverage—community rating; medical loss ratios; insurance affordability programs for people under 400% FPL. See Title I—Quality, Affordable health Care for All Americans.

7. Q#6—Capacity? Are there enough docs? Important question. Answer is “no,”, but not a problem caused by the ACA. ACA part of the solution—See Title V—Health Care Workforce

8. Q#7—How is ACA improving quality? Dozens of good ideas. See Title III—Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Health Care. See Title IV—Prevention of Chronic Disease and Improving public Health

9. Q#8—Elephants? Post NFIB v. Sebelius—Medicaid coverage for the “newly eligible” group; Affordable Insurance Exchanges—Illinois will be a “state-partnership” exchange in year 1; 2012 election.

10. Q#9—Resources? www.healthcare.gov www.illinois.gov/healthcarereform www.kff.org www.povertylaw.org