Select Health Provisions Are in Effect

Six months ago today, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Since then, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has been working to help state legislators understand the new law and what states are required to do to comply.

States are responsible for meeting basic federal requirements. Some provisions of federal health reform, such as creating temporary high-risk pools, required immediate action from state legislatures. Broader provisions of health reform—Medicaid expansion and insurance mandates, for example—take effect Jan. 1, 2014. Other key health insurance provisions go into effect today.

Here is a link to some of the provisions that take effect on Thursday. One of these will extend coverage for young people until their 26th birthday under their parents’ insurance. This will require health plans to allow young people to remain on their parents’ insurance regardless of marital status. Before federal health care reform was enacted, more than 30 states already had legislation allowing young adults to stay on their parents’ insurance. Another provision will prohibit health insurers from denying coverage to children with pre‐existing conditions. Starting in 2014, this prohibition will apply to everyone.

NCSL is committed to providing lawmakers and staff with a wide array of resources to help them understand and implement federal health care reform as various key dates come into play. Here are some additional resources:

• Many state legislatures and governors are setting up the infrastructure for implementing the new federal health reform law.
• NCSL has created a state legislators' check list for health reform implementation.
• NCSL will continue to host webinars for legislators and staff to understand key components of health care reform.

It is important to note there has been opposition to federal health care reform in some states. Members of at least 40 legislatures, along with several states attorneys general, have proposed legislation to limit, alter or oppose selected state or federal actions, including mandates that would require purchase of insurance. Additional measures will appear on the November ballot in at least three states.

Comments

[Wellescent Health Blog]

Given all the opposition, much of it based on a lack of understanding of the bill, these provisions don't come soon enough. The Democrats will really need to sell the benefits and how they are beneficial on a item by item basis in order to combat the simplified repeal and replace message of the Republicans.