Peach Pulse Archives
Action Alert
Tell Your Member of Congress and Georgia’s Senators: Medicaid Matters!
As Congress debates deficit reduction proposals, Medicaid is under threat of being cut. The Ryan proposal, passed by the House of Representatives, would make drastic cuts to Medicaid, such that in 10 years Medicaid would be cut by 33%. To put this into context, if a cut of this size were put into effect today, it would translate to $1.9 billion in lost federal funding for Georgia and place $4.4 billion in Georgia business activity and more than 38,000 jobs related to our state’s health care economy at risk. Medicaid cuts would not only threaten Georgia’s fragile economic recovery, but also threaten access to health care and health outcomes for low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities. In fact, a landmark study released last week by a team of top-notch researchers led by Harvard and MIT using a randomized control design, the gold standard for health services research, has found that having Medicaid coverage results in improved access to care, improved financial security, and improved reported health status relative to being uninsured. More details about the study are available here and here, and the full report can be downloaded by clicking here. Please contact your member of Congress and send the message: Don’t jeopardize Georgia’s fragile economic recovery and the health and economic security of seniors, people living with disabilities and low-income families. Don’t cut Medicaid. If you don’t know who your member of Congress is, you can find out this information along with contact information here.What’s New in Georgia
Georgia Health Insurance Exchange Advisory Committee Work Continues
The Health Insurance Exchange Advisory Committee, charged with determining whether Georgia should establish a state-based health insurance exchange, held its second formal meeting on July 12th. During the morning session, the committee heard from two existing small business exchanges, HealthPass in New York and Florida Health Choices, to help inform the committee’s work. In the afternoon session, the committee discussed potential pros and cons of developing a small business and/or individual health insurance exchange in Georgia. Committee meetings are open to the public, and the next committee meeting will be held on August 16th (time and location TBD). There are also two upcoming small business listening sessions, one taking place in Albany on July 20th and one in Dalton on 26th of July. For more information on these sessions, email Amanda Ptashkin. The committee is to make preliminary recommendations to the Governor by September 15th and final recommendations by December 15th. Georgia Health News covered this week’s meeting (article here), and all meeting materials are posted on the state’s health reform website here. This week, the federal Department of Health and Human Services released a proposed rule on exchanges, providing additional flexibility for states as they move forward with their exchange planning. Information about the rule is available here, and a summary analysis from the Health Affairs blog is available here.Medical Loss Ratio Update: Ensuring Value for Georgia’s Consumers
Health care consumer advocates in Georgia are on standby as the Center for Consumer Information & Oversight (CCIIO) reviews the Georgia Insurance Commissioner’s application for an adjustment to the new medical loss ratio (MLR) rules that require insurance companies to spend at least 80% of the premiums their customers pay on medical services and quality improvement activities, as compared to administrative expenses, or else provide rebates to consumers. Designed to spur insurance companies to operate more transparently and to provide value for the paid premium dollar, the new rules are a step forward for consumers. When Georgia’s application is complete, CCIIO will accept public comment. Georgians for a Healthy Future will be filing comments in collaboration with a range of other groups, and when the comment period opens, we will keep you updated as to sign-on opportunities on this important issue. Kaiser Health News has a video explaining MLR here, and Georgia Public Broadcasting has a story about Georgia’s adjustment request here.Community Health Board Approves Provider Reimbursement Rate Cuts
The Georgia Department of Community Health Board met earlier this week and approved a .5 percent cut in reimbursement rates for providers participating in the Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids programs (final adoption of rules). The board also proposed increasing co-payments for Medicaid patients and adding co-payments for the first time for PeachCare for Kids patients ages 6 and older (initial adoption of rules). Both changes reflect decisions made by the General Assembly during the 2011 Legislative Session. However, there is concern among advocates and health care providers that these changes will diminish access to care. For more information about these changes, see a recent Georgia Health News article here and a recent AJC article here. For materials from the Department of Community Health board meeting and information about upcoming meetings, click here.F as in Fat: Georgia Rankings
According to a new report released by the nonprofit Trust for America’s Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation shows that Georgia is the 17th most obese state, with an adult obesity rate of 28.7% and a children’s obesity rate of 21.3%. To read that report, click here. To read a recent AJC article on the report, click here.Events
What Health Care Reform Means for Small Businesses in Georgia
This week, Georgians for a Healthy Future and Small Business Majority held the first in a series of presentations focused on small business owners and how health care reform will affect them, their families and their bottom line. From the tax credits that are already available for businesses who filed 2010 tax returns to the creation of the small business exchange, health care reform will have a positive impact on many of Georgia’s small businesses. To learn about an upcoming webinar or educational forum, email Amanda Ptashkin. To view the power point presentation from this week’s webinar, click here.Building a Healthy Georgia: Augusta
If you live in the Augusta area and have an interest in policies and practices aimed at the obstacles to accessing care for children in the region, join Georgians for a Healthy Future, Voices for Georgia’s Children and Health STAT for our symposium, “Building a Healthy Georgia: Exploring Policies and Practices to Improve Children’s Access to Health Care Services.” Event Details: WHEN: Thursday, August 25th, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM WHERE: The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center of Augusta CONTACT: For questions, please contact Amanda Ptashkin or at 404-890-5804. While we request RSVP, please note that there is no cost REGISTER HERE For more information about the event, click here. Don’t live in Augusta? Think of at least one person who you know in the area who would be interesting in being involved in this conversation and tell them about it! Stay tuned for more information about upcoming events in a town near you! MORE >What’s New in Georgia
Georgia Health Insurance Exchange Advisory Committee Begins Work
The first meeting of the newly appointed Health Insurance Exchange Advisory Committee was held on June 6th. The committee, consisting of 25 members, heard presentations from the Governor’s staff and was given its charge to determine whether Georgia should establish an exchange and whether there should be a single exchange for small businesses and individuals or whether there should be separate exchanges. Information about the committee and the committee meetings is housed on the state of Georgia website here.
State-based health insurance exchanges are a central feature of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and will serve as the mechanism for restructuring the individual and small group health insurance marketplaces. If designed well, the exchange can facilitate apples-to-apples comparisons of health insurance options for consumers, make these choices more affordable by providing access to substantial tax credits authorized by the ACA, and navigate consumers who are eligible for the Medicaid or PeachCare for Kids programs to those options. Georgians for a Healthy Future’s Executive Director was appointed to the committee to represent the consumer voice. To see our priorities for the exchange, read our recent op-ed on this issue here.
Still, we want your input! Please share your priorities for the exchange with us. If you have questions about the exchange or would like to learn more, please also be in touch and we can brief you about the details. To view other states’ progress on setting up exchanges, click here to view a Commonwealth Fund map.
Cuts to Medicaid Will Harm Georgia’s Economy
Congressional proposals to reduce federal Medicaid support to states and turn the program into a block grant would stunt the economic recovery in Georgia by placing business activity and thousands of jobs at risk while shifting new costs to Georgia at a time when the state can least afford it. According to a new report released this week from the national consumer health advocacy organization Families USA, here in Georgia the proposed cuts could translate to as much as $1.9 billion in lost federal funding and place $4.4 billion in business activity and 38,420 jobs at risk.
Please contact your member of Congress and send the message: Don’t jeopardize Georgia’s fragile economic recovery and the health and economic security of seniors, people living with disabilities and low-income families by simply shifting costs onto individuals, families and the state. Don’t cut Medicaid. If you don’t know who your member of Congress is, you can find out this information here.
For more specifics on the Georgia data, you can download a new fact sheet from Georgians for a Healthy Future and the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute here. You can also download the full report from Families USA here.
Pathways to Coverage
Figuring out how to purchase insurance for yourself or your family is a confusing process, particularly if you have a pre-existing condition or are unable to afford coverage. To help consumers navigate the system, Georgians for a Healthy Future has a new fact sheet called Pathways to Coverage. It’s a basic one-page overview of where and how you can access health insurance in Georgia today, and provides you contact information for relevant resources. If you interact with patients and consumers, please share with them, or any other individuals or organizations who you think would find it useful. Click here to access the fact sheet.
Starting July 1st, Insurance Companies Can Offer Stripped-Down Policies in Georgia
Throughout the 2011 Legislative Session, Georgians for a Healthy Future worked in coalition with a range of patient, consumer, and primary care advocacy groups to raise concerns about House Bill 47, which would allow Georgia insurance companies to sell individual health insurance products with benefit designs equivalent to those sold in other states, circumventing current Georgia standards for basic consumer protections and essential medical services that all insurers must cover today under Georgia law. Unfortunately, the legislation passed and was signed into the law by the Governor. It takes effect tomorrow. For a recent article on House Bill 47, click here.
New Changes to Take Effect July 1 for the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP)
The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, a new option for uninsured consumers who are locked out of the insurance market due to a pre-existing health condition, has had lower than anticipated enrollment since it became available in late 2010. To make the program more accessible, starting July 1st premiums will be reduced by 15% in Georgia and applicants no longer have to produce a letter of denial from an insurance company but can instead supply documentation from their physician that they do have a pre-existing condition. The requirement to have been uninsured for six months has not been changed. To date, 608 people in Georgia have enrolled in the plan. To download our updated fact sheet on the PCIP, click here. To apply for the PCIP, click here. For a recent report from the Commonwealth Fund on how the program is working around the country, click here.
Forums and Events
Building a Healthy Georgia: Exploring Policies and Practices to Improve Children’s Access to Health Care Services
Georgians for a Healthy Future, along with partnering groups HealthSTAT and Voices for Georgia’s Children, invites you to participate in a community conversation centered around the barriers that children face when accessing vital health care services in Augusta. With your active engagement, the goal of this symposium is to catalyze a statewide effort to advocate for policy and practice changes to remove existing access barriers and strengthen the overall health care delivery system in Georgia. Please share this information with your contacts and partners in the Augusta area and encourage them to attend.
EVENT DETAILS:
WHEN: Thursday, August 25th, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
WHERE: The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center of Augusta
CONTACT: For questions, please contact Amanda Ptashkin. To RSVP, click here. While we request RSVP, please note that there is no cost to attend this event.
SPEAKERS:
Sandra Mobley,PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Georgia Health Sciences University
Joann Yoon,JD, Assoc. Policy Director for Child Health, Voices for Georgia’s Children
Denise Kornegay,MSW, Program Director,AHEC Network
Michelle Putnam,MPH, Executive Director, HealthSTAT
Amanda Ptashkin,JD,Outreach and Advocacy Director, Georgians for a Healthy Future
To learn more about this event, click here.
Campaign for Better Care Advocates for Quality Reforms
The Campaign for Better Care is a new effort that aims to ensure that our health care system provides the comprehensive, coordinated, patient- and family-centered care that individuals want and need. Here in Atlanta, Georgians for a Healthy Future joined with coalition partners Georgia Watch, Piedmont Healthcare, Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda, The Center for Pan Asian Community Services, and the Urban League of Greater Atlanta in a town hall conversation about safely and effectively navigating healthcare today earlier this week to kick off the effort. To learn more about the campaign or to learn what you can do to support this effort, click here.
National News
6th Circuit Appellate Court Upholds Individual Mandate
In a 2-1 ruling issued this week, the United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit upheld the constitutionality of the requirement to purchase health insurance in the Affordable Care Act. The 6th circuit is the first appellate court to rule on the issue; cases are pending before the 4th circuit and 11th circuit court of appeals. Full coverage of the ruling is available here.
Building a Healthy Georgia
For nearly a year, we’ve been bringing the Peach Pulse to your inbox. Our hope is that it is interesting, informative, and equips you with the information and tools you need to be an effective advocate.
During the 2011 Legislative Session, we kept you updated on bills moving through the legislature that would impact health care consumers, developments with the nation’s new health care law, and other national issues affecting Georgia health care consumers. We will continue to keep you updated on public policy developments happening in Georgia and nationally throughout the summer and fall, but also want to utilize this forum to highlight opportunities to engage on health care issues through Town Halls, Educational Forums and Health Fairs. Don’t worry–we will still have those other important updates in there!
Georgians for a Healthy Future, along with several coalition partners, is embarking on an exciting new project, the “Building a Healthy Georgia” Campaign. The effort will bring together community leaders, health care providers, consumers and small business owners to foster a dialogue on the most pressing health care issues in local communities, and we hope you’ll get involved.
Between now and October, we will hold forums in 9 cities: Alpharetta, Athens, Butler, Macon, Rome, Savannah, Gainesville, Augusta and Tifton. Each event will have a different focus in order to address most pressing health care issues in these communities. As these events are scheduled, we will be sure to share the details as well as an opportunity to participate.
Additionally, if you are planning an event of your own and would like to incorporate information from the health care consumer lens, we are always happy to come and speak to your group or to provide materials. Please contact Amanda Ptashkin if you would like to include Georgians for a Healthy Future in your upcoming event!
Upcoming Events
AUGUSTA
Building a Healthy Georgia: Exploring Policies and Practices to Improve Children’s Access to Health Care Services
Georgians for a Healthy Future, along with partnering groups HealthSTAT and Voices for Georgia’s Children, invites you to participate in a community conversation centered around the barriers that children in your area face when accessing vital health care services. With your active engagement, the goal of this symposium is to catalyze a statewide effort to advocate for policy and practice changes to remove existing access barriers and strengthen the overall health care delivery system in Georgia.
EVENT DETAILS:
WHEN: Thursday, August 25th, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
WHERE: The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center of Augusta
CONTACT: For questions, please contact Amanda Ptashkin. To RSVP, click here. While we request RSVP, please note that there is no cost to attend this event.
SPEAKERS:
Sandra Mobley,PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Georgia Health Sciences University
Joann Yoon,JD, Assoc. Policy Director for Child Health, Voices for Georgia’s Children
Denise Kornegay,MSW, Program Director, AHEC Network
Michelle Putnam,MPH, Executive Director, HealthSTAT
Amanda Ptashkin,JD,Outreach and Advocacy Director, Georgians for a Healthy Future
To learn more about this event, click here.
ATLANTA
Town Hall Conversation: Safely and Effectively Navigating Healthcare Today
Community leaders, civic organizations, healthcare providers and hospitals are collaborating to provide you with valuable healthcare information that everyone must have to safely and effectively navigate healthcare today. The evening will feature discussion around patient safety as well as how healthcare reform might impact you and your family. The event will include:
- Free health screenings
- Materials in various languages
- Food and beverages, and
- Opportunities to ask questions
EVENT DETAILS:
WHEN: Tuesday, June 28th, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
WHERE: Atlanta Community Food Bank
732 Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard
Atlanta, GA 30318
CONTACT: To make a reservation or for more information, email hap@georgiawatch.org or call 404.525.1085
What’s New in Georgia
Building a Healthy Georgia Campaign
Georgians for a Healthy Future, along with many of our coalition partners is embarking on a series of educational forums across the state aimed at bringing together community leaders, health care providers, consumers and small business owners to foster a dialogue on the most pressing health care issues in local communities. Between now and October, we will hold forums in 9 cities: Alpharetta, Athens, Butler, Macon, Rome, Savannah, Gainesville, Augusta and Tifton.
To learn more about the Building a Healthy Georgia campaign and ways to collaborate on the events, contact Amanda Ptashkin.
Governor Deal Establishes Advisory Committee on Health Insurance Exchange
Earlier this week, Governor Nathan Deal issued an Executive Order creating the Georgia Health Insurance Exchange Advisory Committee. The charge of the committee is to determine if Georgia should establish a state-based health care exchange as authorized by the Affordable Care Act. Georgians for a Healthy Future Executive Director Cindy Zeldin will serve on the committee, providing a seat at the table for the consumer voice. We will keep you updated throughout this process, and in turn please send us your thoughts and ideas for how to build a consumer-friendly exchange so we can bring the best ideas to the committee. The Executive Order, including the list of committee members, is available here.
House Bill 47 Signed Into Law
During the Legislative Session, Georgians for a Healthy Future worked in coalition with a range of patient and consumer advocacy groups to raise concerns about House Bill 47, which would allow Georgia insurance companies to sell individual health plans with benefit designs equivalent to those sold in other states, circumventing current Georgia standards for basic consumer protections and essential medical services that all insurers must cover today under Georgia law. Last month, Governor Deal signed House Bill 47 into law. We will monitor its implementation and keep you updated on advocacy opportunities.
Georgia Department of Community Health Looks at Medicaid Options
The Department of Community Health (DCH) recently announced that they would be undergoing a process to assess the most appropriate approach for providing services to Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids members. The Board of Community Health meets monthly, and the Board’s Policy Committee and Care Management Committee meet periodically as well. Information about upcoming DCH Board Meetings is available here. As we learn more information about potential changes to the Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids programs, we will pass along this information.
Opening Arguments to Start on June 8th
The United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit will hear oral arguments in Atlanta on Wednesday, June 8, 2011, in the case State of Florida v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Florida Attorney General’s challenge to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that has been joined by Attorneys General from a number of other states. Consumers and small businesses are already benefiting from the law through new tax credits, an insurance plan for people with pre-existing conditions, and additional consumer protections. Georgians for a Healthy Future is joining Families USA and several consumers who have been impacted by the law for a briefing prior to the oral arguments. The briefing will start at 8am on Wednesday morning at the corner of Forsyth St, NW and Walton St, NW outside the Elbert P. Tuttle United States Court of Appeals Building in Atlanta. Please join us to show your support!
National News
Premiums to Drop 15% for the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan
Last week, the Department of Health and Humans Services announced that premium rates for the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) would be lowered to encourage more people to enroll. In Georgia, consumers will see a 15% reduction in premium costs and will no longer need to submit a formal denial letter from an insurer, but rather just send in a doctor’s note confirming the existence of a pre-existing condition. Consumers hoping to join the PCIP will still need to show that they have been uninsured for six months. This is a welcome change that should allow more of our state’s 1.9 million uninsured to find and enroll in health insurance. To read a recent Georgia Health News article on the PCIP, click here.
Health Transformation Grants Now Available:
Through the Affordable Care Act, $100 million dollars is now available for up to 75 Community Transformation Grants across the country. These grants are aimed at helping communities implement projects proven to reduce chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. By promoting healthy lifestyles and communities, especially among population groups experiencing the greatest burden of chronic disease, these grants will help improve health, reduce health disparities, and lower health care costs. State and local government agencies as well as state and local non-profit organizations are eligible to apply for the grants. Letters of interest are due on June 6 and applications are due to the CDC in July 2011, with awards expected to be announced near the end of summer. To learn more about the grant opportunity, click here.
600,000 Young Adults Get Coverage
Since September 23rd, 2010, an estimated 600,000 young adults, up to age 26, have been able to remain on or rejoin a parent’s insurance plan through the dependent care provision of the Affordable Care Act. The Department of Health and Human Services estimated that 1.2 million young adults would gain coverage through this provision in 2011 alone, but given the numbers to date, that figure should be much higher. This provision is particularly popular because people in their 20’s have the highest uninsurance rate of any group, 30%. To read more about the dependent care provision of the ACA, click here and here.
Have you been able to keep your children on your plan due to this provision? If so, let us know by emailing Amanda Ptashkin at aptashkin@healthyfuturega.org.
MORE >Georgians for a Healthy Future in the AJC: “Pro & Con: Is first year of health care reform law living up to promised claims?”
Georgians for a Healthy Future’s Cindy Zeldin and Voices for Georgia’s Children’s Joann Yoon marked the one-year anniversary of the new health care reform law by setting the record straight in the AJC on the benefits of the new law to Georgia consumers. The article is available here.
Second Annual Cocktail Reception
Thank you to everyone who came out for Georgians for a Healthy Future’s 2nd Annual Cocktail Reception and Fundraiser! We were delighted to see so many new and also familiar faces supporting the work of our organization. Click here to view pictures from the event. If you were unable to attend and would still like to support the important work of our organization, please click here.
What’s New in Georgia
Update on the 2011 Legislative Session
Thirty-three of the 40 legislative days are now complete. The Legislature is out of session for the remainder of this week; in session each day next week for legislative days 34 through 38, out of session the week of April 4th; and in Session for the final two legislative days on April 12th and April 14th. Georgians for a Healthy Future is monitoring several bills that would impact health care coverage and access in Georgia. If you’d like to weigh in on these bills, you can find your legislator’s contact information here.
Recent Action Was Taken on the Following Bills:
House Bill 47 would allow Georgia insurers to sell individual health insurance products with benefit designs equivalent to those sold in other states, circumventing current Georgia standards for basic consumer protections and essential medical services that all insurers must cover today under Georgia law. The bill was passed by the House and is now in the Senate Insurance Committee. For more information about the concerns this legislation raises for patients and consumers, click here. For more information about the legislation, click here.
House Bill 214 would move the Division of Public Health out of the Department of Community Health and establish a new, independent agency, the Department of Public Health, implementing the recommendation of the Public Health Commission. The new stand-alone agency would operate on the same budget as the Division of Public Health and provide Georgians a nimbler and more efficient public health agency with a clear focus on prevention and population-level health. The bill was passed by the House and passed through the Senate HHS Health Care Delivery Subcommittee on Wednesday. It now moves to the full Senate HHS Committee. For more information about the legislation, click here.
House Bill 229 would require that DCH process appeals requests and refer them for hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) within 15 days. Currently, after the ALJ hears a case and renders an impartial decision, DCH may appeal the decision to itself. HB 229 would remove DCH’s ability to overturn the ALJ’s decision. The bill did not pass by Crossover Day, which means that it is no longer viable this year unless attached to another piece of legislation. To learn more about the benefits of HB 229, click here. For more information on the legislation, click here.
House Bill 476 (pulled from the calendar on Crossover Day) would have established the Georgia Health Exchange Authority, the governance body for Georgia’s health insurance exchange. Under the Affordable Care Act, Georgia recently received a $1 million grant from the Department of Health and Human Services to begin planning for a health insurance exchange. HB 476 also would have created an Advisory Committee to make policy recommendations to the exchange governing board and the Governor by November 15, 2011 for next steps. The bill was pulled under pressure from tea party activists just prior to Crossover Day and is no longer viable this Session. Governor Deal has indicated he will move forward with an Advisory Committee. For the AJC article on HB 476 and the Georgia Exchange, click here.
Senate Bill 17 would establish a Special Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits to study the social and financial impact of current and proposed health insurance benefit mandates and providers. The bill has passed the Senate and has passed through the House Insurance Committee. To learn more about SB 17 and benefit mandates, click here for a recent AJC article. For more information about the legislation, click here.
Senate Bill 63 would enact a Georgia Medical Assistance Fraud Prevention Program utilizing smart card technology to verify identification of Medicaid recipients, first directing the Department of Community Health to develop and implement a pilot program. Implementing the bill could present barriers to accessing care, and the methodology proposed has not been proven to be a successful method to target fraud within the Medicaid system. Further, there has been some controversy over a vendor that has been lobbying for the bill. SB 63 has passed the Senate and has not yet had a hearing in the House. To see the fiscal note on the bill as originally proposed, click here. For a recent AJC article on this issue, click here. For more information on the legislation, click here.
House Bill 461 and Senate Bill 177 would enter Georgia into an interstate “health care compact” to allow member states to opt out of any federal health care law. While interstate compacts are typically used to handle regional and multi-state problems such as transportation issues, water rights or environmental protection, they require approval from the U.S. Congress and the President of the United States. Thus, the compacts have no chance of becoming law. HB 461 passed the House and is in the Senate Insurance Committee. SB 177 passed the Senate and is in the House Insurance Committee. For a recent AJC article on this issue, click here.
Additional Analyses & Resources on Proposed Health Care Legislation in Georgia
You can also track the status of various health care related bills and download analyses and resources on these bills on our new legislative tracking page on the Georgians for a Healthy Future website. The page is available here.
Bump It Up a Buck Delivers Petitions and Rallies for an Increase in the Cigarette Tax
This week, the Georgia Coalition for Tobacco Prevention ran a 48-hour petition drive to raise awareness and support for the Bump It Up a Buck campaign—an effort to raise the state’s tobacco tax by a dollar. Doubling expectations, at the end of the drive the coalition had collected over 1,000 names and on Wednesday, held a press conference with local physicians to highlight the momentum behind the movement and hand deliver the petitions to the Governor’s office. Dr. Harry Heiman, a Professor at Morehouse School of Medicine and Board Member for Georgians for a Healthy Future explained that “tobacco has no redeeming quality. There is nothing good that comes out of smoking tobacco. We have the support—the only question is, do we have the political will?” To view coverage of the Press Conference, click here, and here and to read more, click here.
The Affordable Care Act and You
Insurance Commissioner Hudgens Requests Adjustment to Medical Loss Ratio Rules
Last week, Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens submitted a request to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on behalf of the state of Georgia for an adjustment to the recently issued rules pertaining to medical loss ratio (MLR). The MLR rules are designed to ensure that consumers get value for their premium dollar by requiring insurers operating in the individual health insurance market to spend at least 80% of premiums they collect from consumers on medical care and health care quality improvement as compared to administrative expenses such as marketing and profits. The rules were developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) after a thorough process. States requesting waivers can propose a phase-in to the MLR requirements for the years 2011, 2012, and 2013 if they can demonstrate immediate implementation of the MLR standard would destabilize the individual health insurance market in their state. They cannot waive them entirely. Georgia thus proposed a phase-in period for the MLR Standard. The application detailing the adjustment request is available here. The data on Georgia insurers that the Insurance Department provided in support of its application is available here. A recent article on this issue from Georgia Health News is available here. The application is under review by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Once deemed complete, public comments will be accepted. More information about how to file public comments is available here.
Focus on Primary Care
By 2014, more than a million uninsured Georgians will gain health insurance as a result of the Affordable Care Act, either through the Medicaid program (when it will be expanded to all Georgians at or below 133 percent of the federal poverty level) or through private insurance purchased through the exchange. Once these Georgians become insured, it is imperative that this coverage translates to access to the health care delivery system. A new state-by-state study of primary care physician supply projects that Georgia will need between 177 and 285 additional primary care physicians to meet the expected increase in primary care utilization resulting from the coverage expansion. In addition to sheer physician supply, an important policy priority will be to ensure that there is an adequate network of primary care physicians participating in the Medicaid program. Beginning in 2013, under the Affordable Care Act, there will be an increase in the Medicaid reimbursement rate for primary care providers such that it is at parity with Medicare reimbursement rates. This increase is funded entirely with federal dollars. Several new reports take an in-depth look at this issue. First, a study in the journal Milbank Quarterly provides state-specific projections of primary care utilization and necessary supply; second, a report by the Center for Studying Health System Change specifically examines primary care participation in the Medicaid program; and third, the Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc, provides a policy roadmap for states to implement the Medicaid primary care rate increase. Finally, a recent media article examines a renewed interest in primary care among medical students due to health reform. For more Georgia-specific information and policy recommendations on our state’s primary care supply, please see this recent presentation to the Georgia General Assembly made by the Georgia Area Health Education Centers.
One Year Later
This week marks the one year anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Care Act and advocates across the state and the country are evaluating the provisions that have already taken effect and seeing how far we have come in just one year. On Monday, Georgians for a Healthy Future held a press teleconference with Terry Gardiner of the Small Business Majority and Alpharetta small business owner Julie Haley to detail the provisions of the law that help small businesses. These provisions include tax credits that offset the cost of providing insurance coverage for employees. To read the press release, click here. Beyond the benefits that small businesses see from the new law, young adults to seniors are also enjoying some new provisions. The ability for a young adult to remain on a parent’s insurance plan up to age 26 will help get the next generation off on the right foot as they enter the job market in this sensitive economy. The $250 donut hole checks for Medicare beneficiaries and free preventive services helps lower costs for seniors and allows them to better manage their care. For more information about the impact of the ACA to date, check out our blog series, “One Year Later,” that explores these topics and more.
New Resources Available
The Consumers Union Guide to the Affordable Care Act was released this week and is a free, easy-to-use guide that walks the reader through parts of the ACA that have already been enacted. It explores implications for people who currently have insurance, are uninsured, are a Medicare beneficiary, or own or work for a small business. To access the guide, click here. Additionally, Young Invincibles released a tool kit this week designed to help young adults figure out the best way to get covered. To access the tool kit, click here.
MORE >March 15th: Cocktail Reception and Fundraiser
If you haven’t done so already, please register for Georgians for a Healthy Future’s 2nd Annual Cocktail Reception and Fundraiser. Taking place at Ri Ra on Tuesday, March 15th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, the evening will include substantive updates on important issues facing the General Assembly as well as an opportunity to network and unwind before Cross-Over Day. We hope to see you there! Click here to purchase your ticket.
What’s New in Georgia
Update on the 2011 Legislative Session
Twenty-eight of the 40 legislative days are now complete. The Legislature is in session Monday and Wednesday of this week for legislative days 29 and 30. Day 30 is also known as crossover day, the deadline for bills to pass their chamber of origin to remain viable, unless attached to another piece of legislation as an amendment. Georgians for a Healthy Future is monitoring several bills that would impact health care coverage and access in Georgia. If you’d like to weigh in on these bills, you can find your legislator’s contact information here.
Recent Action Was Taken on the Following Bills:
House Bill 476 establishes the Georgia Health Exchange Authority, the governance body for Georgia’s health insurance exchange. Under the Affordable Care Act, Georgia recently received a $1 million grant from the Department of Health and Human Services to begin planning for a health insurance exchange. The exchange will be a structured marketplace where, beginning in 2014, individual consumers and small businesses can purchase health insurance plans from a range of private insurers, in many cases with tax credits to offset the cost of the premiums. HB 476 also creates an Advisory Committee to make policy recommendations to the exchange governing board and the Governor by November 15, 2011 for next steps. This is a constructive first step towards developing a better functioning, value-driven health insurance market for consumers in Georgia. The bill was favorably passed out the House Insurance Committee last week. For more information on HB 476, including several policy reports outlining policy choices for states, click here. For more information about the legislation, click here.
House Bill 47 would allow Georgia insurers to sell individual health insurance products with benefit designs equivalent to those sold in other states, circumventing current Georgia standards for basic consumer protections and essential medical services that all insurers must cover today under Georgia law. The bill was passed by the House last week and moves to the Senate Insurance Committee. For more information about the concerns this legislation raises for patients and consumers, click here. For more information about the legislation, click here.
House Bill 229 requires that DCH process appeals requests and refer them for hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) within 15 days. Currently, after the ALJ hears a case and renders an impartial decision, DCH may appeal the decision to itself. HB 229 removes DCH’s ability to overturn the ALJ’s decision, providing a fair and efficient administrative appeal process that protects the integrity and impartiality of the hearing before the Administrative Law Judge. The bill was favorably passed by the House Judiciary Committee last week and will be voted on by the House this week. To learn more about the benefits of HB 229, click here. For more information on the legislation, click here.
Senate Bill 63 would enact a Georgia Medical Assistance Fraud Prevention Program. The bill, as introduced, would have put in place a pilot program that would involve fingerprinting Medicaid patients at the point of service. A committee substitute bill stripped the biometric identification requirement and instead requires a pilot program utilizing smart card technology along with language that the Department may also implement a biometric verification process if it so chooses. Implementing the bill could present barriers to accessing care, and the methodology proposed has not been proven to be successful method to target fraud within the Medicaid system. To see the fiscal note on the bill as originally proposed, click here. For more information on the legislation, click here.
Additional Analyses & Resources on Proposed Health Care Legislation in Georgia
You can also track the status of various health care related bills and download analyses and resources on these bills on our new legislative tracking page on the Georgians for a Healthy Future website. The page is available here.
Budget Update
Last week, the House of Representatives passed the FY 2012 budget. For the Department of Community Health, the House version of the budget restored proposed funding cuts to dental, vision, and podiatry services for adults on Medicaid; partially restored Medicaid reimbursement cuts to providers; and partially restored funding for the Children 1st program which provides screening services for newborns and other at-risk children and links children to services to address developmental and other health needs. To learn more about the health care budget, click here to read Georgia Budget and Policy Institute’s latest report.
Bump It Up a Buck Campaign Launches
On March 3rd, the Georgia Alliance for Tobacco Prevention (American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, American Heart Association, ACS CAN, GASCO, Georgians For A Healthy Future, Georgia Public Health Association) launched the “Bump It Up a Buck” campaign, aimed at increasing the state’s tobacco tax by a dollar. The bump of $1 will generate an estimated $350 million per year in revenue at a time when the state is facing a $2 billion deficit, and will help save critical programs and services, save kids from addiction to tobacco and encourage current smokers to quit. To learn more about the campaign and to see useful fact sheets on the issue, visit www.bumpitupabuck.org and find them on Facebook and Twitter.
The Affordable Care Act and You
Early Retiree Reinsurance Program Provides Financial Relief to Georgia Health Plan Sponsors, Including State Health Benefit Plan
The Early Retiree Reinsurance Program (ERRP) was established by the Affordable Care Act to assist businesses, state and local governments, non-profit organizations, and other plan sponsors that provide health insurance to early retirees with the cost of that coverage. The ERRP is intended to help stabilize plans that provide insurance to early retirees. Without such coverage, early retirees between the ages of 55 and 64 face difficulties securing an affordable health insurance policy in the individual market because of their age or pre-existing health conditions. As of December 31, 2010, over 5,000 plan sponsors were approved for participation in ERRP, including 74 Georgia-based plans. The Georgia Department of Community Health was among the approved applicants, receiving $34.9 million for the State Health Benefit Plan. More information about the ERRP and the funds directed to Georgia employers is available here. For a full report on the ERRP in 2010, click here.
New Report Finds Full Implementation of the Affordable Care Act Will Reduce Georgia’s Rate of Uninsured by 12.6 Percentage Points
A new report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation estimates the effects of the Affordable Care Act on states, in particular the increases in insurance coverage, subsidies in the exchanges, Medicaid enrollment and federal spending. Nationally, full implementation will lead to a 10.3 percentage point decrease in uninsurance for the non-elderly—in Georgia that reduction is 12.6 percentage points. In terms of the Medicaid program, upon full implementation, 1.8 million Georgians will be enrolled in Medicaid. Among this group, 29% will be newly eligible and newly enrolled. For more data on the effects of full implementation and to read the full report, click here.
Progress Continues on Health Insurance Exchanges
Georgia’s planning work on a state health insurance exchange continued with the introduction of HB 476, and progress continues in states around the country. For primers on how exchanges will work, what points of flexibility states have, and resources for how to ensure the exchanges are consumer friendly, see Families USA’s Health Insurance Exchange Resources. For a recent AJC article on Georgia’s progress, click here.
National News
New Flexibility
President Obama outlined a proposal to move up the date from 2017 to 2014 in which states wishing to innovate to achieve the same coverage and affordability goals as will be met under the Affordable Care Act can apply for a waiver to pursue these strategies. As Georgians for a Healthy Future discussed in media interviews (here and here) on this topic, the provision is intended for states that are already at near-universal coverage and it is unlikely that Georgia would be able to shift course and set up a separate system that would meet the coverage and affordability benchmarks without doing it under the framework in the Affordable Care Act.
Employers and Health Care Reform
A new policy brief issued by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation examines the issues surrounding the effects of health care reform on employers. To expand access and strengthen the employment-based health system, the ACA requires midsize and large companies to make payments to the federal government if they do not offer health insurance to their employees and dependents starting in 2014. The brief explores the current state of employer-sponsored coverage and what the likely impact is of implementation. To read the brief, click here.
Small Business: A Year Later
A new fact sheet from Small Business Majority details how provisions of the new health law address concerns with rising health care costs and ultimately affect small businesses across the country. A recent study found that nationally 87% of small businesses are eligible for tax credits to help offset the cost of health care for employees. Additionally, small businesses benefit from access to the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan and free preventive care now available through health plans. To learn more about the effects of the law on small business, click here.
MORE >What’s New in Georgia
Update on the 2011 Legislative Session
Nineteen of the 40 legislative days are now complete. The Legislature will be in session every day next week for legislative days 20 through 24. Georgians for a Healthy Future is monitoring several bills that would impact health care coverage and access in Georgia. If you’d like to weigh in on these bills, you can find your legislator’s contact information here.
Action was taken on the following bills this week:
House Bill 47would allow Georgia insurers to sell individual health insurance products with benefit designs equivalent to those sold in other states, circumventing current Georgia standards for basic consumer protections and essential medical services that all insurers must cover today under Georgia law. The bill was favorably passed out of the House Insurance Committee this week. For more information about the concerns this legislation raises for patients and consumers, click here. For more information about the legislation, click here.
House Bill 214would move the Division of Public Health out of the Department of Community Health and establish a new, independent agency, the Department of Public Health, implementing the recommendation of the Public Health Commission. The new stand-alone agency would operate on the same budget as the Division of Public Health and provide Georgians a nimbler and more efficient public health agency with a clear focus on prevention and population-level health. On Wednesday, the bill was favorably reported out of the House Health and Human Services Committee. Clickhere to read a release from Partner Up! for Public Health Campaign on this legislation. For more information about the legislation, click here.
House Bill 229 requires that DCH process appeals requests and refer them for hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) within 15 days. Currently, after the ALJ hears a case and renders an impartial decision, DCH may appeal the decision to itself. HB 229 removes DCH’s ability to overturn the ALJ’s decision, providing a fair and efficient administrative appeal process that protects the integrity and impartiality of the hearing before the Administrative Law Judge. This week, the bill was recommitted to subcommittee to incorporate amendments suggested by members after subcommittee approval. It will be heard again next week. To learn more about the benefits of HB 229, click here. For more information on the legislation, click here.
Senate Bill 17would establish a Special Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits to study the social and financial impact of current and proposed health insurance benefit mandates and providers. The Senate passed the bill this week. However, because the Affordable Care Act will establish an essential benefits package—a federal floor—for all new health plans beginning in 2014, the impact of the proposed Commission is unclear. To learn more about SB 17 and benefit mandates, click here for a recent AJC article. For more information about the legislation, clickhere.
Additional Analyses & Resources on Proposed Health Care Legislation in Georgia
You can also track the status of various health care related bills and download analyses and resources on these bills on our new legislative tracking page on the Georgians for a Healthy Future website. The page is available here.
Health Care & The State Budget
On Thursday, the House Appropriations Health Subcommittee held a public hearing on the FY 2012 Department of Community Health (DCH) budget. The Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids programs, administered by DCH, are a critical source of health insurance for our state’s most vulnerable children and families. Due to stability protections in federal law, eligibility levels for these vital programs are maintained in the proposed budget. Still, three proposed changes to these programs raise concerns about access to care: the proposed FY 2012 budget places additional co-payments on low-income patients; eliminates adult dental, vision, and podiatry services; and reduces provider reimbursement rates. Each of these provisions would have a negative impact on access to care by creating financial barriers for patients, shifting care to inappropriate settings, or discouraging provider participation in these programs.
If your legislator sits on the Appropriations Committee, please ask them to protect Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids. Members of the appropriations committee can be found here. You can find your legislator’s contact information here. To learn more about the Governor’s Proposed Health Budgets, click here for a recent analysis from the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute.
Primary Care in Georgia
On Monday, the House Appropriations Health Subcommittee heard invited testimony on Georgia’s primary care workforce. Georgia is below the national average on overall physician supply and primary care physician supply, and our primary care trends are getting worse. For more information about this important issue, click here.
A Statewide Screening Program for Children is At Risk
Children 1st is a statewide program that identifies and screens at-risk children ages birth to five and connects them to appropriate health care services. The proposed FY 2012 budget cuts $2.9 million from this program, making it impossible for the program to continue to operate as a statewide program. For more information or to raise your concerns about this cut, please contactHealthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia, which has been closely monitoring this issue.
Georgia Alliance for Tobacco Prevention
Georgians for a Healthy Future continues to work with the Georgia Alliance for Tobacco Prevention to increase the tobacco tax from $.37 to $1.37. This dollar increase would bring us closer to the national average of $1.45 and bring in an estimated $400 million in new revenue to help balance the state budget. If you would like to learn more about the Alliance or ways to get involved, please email Eric Bailey at the American Cancer Society.
The Affordable Care Act and You
The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan: New Resources & Information
The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP), authorized by the Affordable Care Act, is a new health insurance option for uninsured Georgians who are locked out of the insurance market due to a pre-existing condition. The PCIP covers a range of benefits, including the applicant’s pre-existing condition, and does not base eligibility for the program on income or any other factors aside from having been uninsured for 6 months, having been denied coverage for a pre-existing condition, and meeting U.S. citizenship requirements. Premiums for the plan are based on a standard population and vary only by age. As of February 1stof this year, 399 Georgia consumers gained coverage through the PCIP. The premiums are subsidized entirely with federal dollars and no state funds are associated with the program. In fact, the Governor’s FY 2012 budget proposal realizes savings of $680,263 from the movement of previously uninsured hemophilia patients who had been accessing life-saving drugs through a state program into the PCIP, where those drugs are now covered. For more information about the PCIP, click here to download our new fact sheet. If you think you are eligible for the program, you can apply here. If you work with consumers, patients, or volunteers and want additional resources to raise awareness of the program, including a downloadable widget to add to your website, click here.
Progress on the Health Insurance Exchange
This week, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Insurance Commission Ralph Hudgens said Georgia should move forward with creating and running its own insurance exchange. The state health insurance exchanges, which must be operational by 2014, will be new marketplaces where most individuals and small businesses will buy insurance. States are given the option of operating their own exchange or allowing their citizens to access a federal exchange. Over the past few months, with a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Governor’s Office of Planning Budget has been convening stakeholders and advocates to gather input on the feasibility of establishing a health insurance exchange in Georgia. This week, Georgia PIRG released a new policy brief entitled, “Building a Better Health Care Marketplace” that discusses the key components of creating a strong exchange. To read that brief, click here.
Medical Loss Ratio Update: Consumer-Friendly Rules on Insurance Premiums May be at Risk in Georgia
Under a provision of the Affordable Care Act known as medical loss ratio, insurers operating in the individual health insurance market are required to spend at least 80% of premiums on medical services, improving value for consumers by limiting the amount of consumers’ premiums that can go towards administrative costs such as marketing and profits. This standard was developed through a transparent, fair, and methodical process undertaken by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The rules are good for consumers, they promote value, and they hold insurers accountable for how premium dollars are spent. If states can demonstrate that these rules would have a destabilizing effect on the individual health insurance market, however, a state’s Insurance Commissioner can apply for an adjustment to the rules. Although there may be instances in which insurers genuinely cannot meet the new MLR standard and would be forced to leave a state’s market unless an adjustment is granted, most individual market insurers should be able—and expected—to spend no more than 20 percent of the premium dollars they collect on non-medical costs. Georgia’s Insurance Department is currently collecting information from insurers and will likely file a request for adjustment. Once the request is filed, there will be a 10-day window for public comment. To ensure that the insurance industry voice is not the only perspective heard, we encourage our partner groups to join us in filing public comments from the consumer perspective at the appropriate time. We will continue to provide information and updates on this issue as we learn more. If you or your organization would like to assist with preparing public comments, please contact us.
National News
D.C. Federal Court Ruling in Favor of ACA
On Tuesday, D.C. Federal Court Judge Gladys Kessler upheld the Affordable Care Act. This is the third time that a court has reviewed the health reform law on its merits and found it constitutional. Two rulings have struck down all or parts of the law and 12 cases have been dismissed outright. This ruling reinforces that the individual responsibility provision of the law was a reasonable measure for Congress to take and is in line with the Commerce Clause of the Constitution. While the issue continues to be litigated by district, appellate and most likely the Supreme courts, it is clear that states must continue the work of implementation while these issues are being resolved to ensure that all Americans are able to access the benefits of the new law.
The CLASS Program
Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services released a new implementation brief on the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Program. The CLASS Program was created by the Affordable Care act to be a federally administered health insurance program designed to assist eligible individuals in purchasing long-term community living services and support. Approximately 10 million seniors and people with disabilities need long-term services and supports and current options in place are insufficient to adequately provide for these citizens. The CLASS Program will offer eligible beneficiaries: advocacy services, advice and assistance counseling, and cash benefit. To learn more about the Class Program and its implementation timelines, click here.
MORE >What’s New in Georgia
Update on the 2011 Legislative Session
With thirteen Legislative days complete, several bills have been introduced that could impact health care consumers in Georgia.
House Bill 47 would allow Georgia insurers to sell individual health insurance products with benefits equivalent to those sold in other states. This could circumvent current Georgia standards for basic consumer protections and essential medical services that all insurers must cover today under Georgia law. The Health and Life Subcommittee of the House Insurance Committee heard testimony on this legislation on Wednesday. Georgians for a Healthy Future expressed our concerns to the subcommittee. The subcommittee plans to vote on the legislation next week.
House Bill 214 would create a separate public health agency, the Department of Public Health. On December 1, 2010, The Public Health Commission issued its final report to the Governor, Speaker, and Lieutenant Governor recommending that the Division of Public Health become an independent, cabinet-level state agency, with the Commissioner reporting directly to the Governor and serving as the state’s chief health officer.
This legislation implements the recommendation of the Public Health Commission. The bill is assigned to the House Health and Human Services Committee. To read a recent Georgia Health News Article on HB 214, click here.
Senate Bill 17 would create a special advisory commission on mandated health insurance benefits in Georgia. The purpose of the commission would be to assess the impact of mandated health benefits and providers and advise the Department of Insurance on these issues, among other responsibilities. The bill was unanimously passed out of the Insurance and Labor Committee on Thursday.
Senate Resolution 140 seeks to dedicate funds for trauma care from existing vehicle registration fees that are already being paid to the state. Trauma care is a significant problem in Georgia since there are only 16 trauma centers for the state’s 159 counties and particular lack of access in rural areas. To read recent articles on trauma funding, click here and here.
We will continue to monitor these and other health-related bills throughout the Legislative Session.
Progress Continues on Health Insurance Exchange Feasibility Study
Over the past few months, with a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Governor’s Office of Planning Budget has been convening stakeholders and advocates to gather input on the feasibility of establishing a health insurance exchange in Georgia. As policymakers consider options for how to structure an insurance exchange, Georgians for a Healthy Future will continue to weigh in on behalf of Georgia consumers. Our top priorities for the exchange are that the governing body be transparent and free of conflicts of interest and that the exchange will seamlessly facilitate enrollment into private health plans as well as Medicaid and Peach Care and that it will provide a robust mechanism for consumers to make true apples-to-apples plan comparisons based on value. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced a new round of exchange establishment grants. We do not yet know if or when Georgia will apply for the grants, but we will keep you updated as we learn more. To read a recent article on the exchange feasibility study, click here.
Georgia Alliance for Tobacco Prevention Works for $1 Increase
Georgians for a Healthy Future has joined with a range of health care focused organizations to support a $1 increase in Georgia’s tobacco tax. Our current tobacco tax is only 37 cents per pack, well below the national average of $1.45. Increasing a state’s tobacco tax has demonstrable public health benefits: it reduces smoking and related death and disease; keeps kids from starting to use tobacco products; and reduces the long-term health care costs associated with treating illnesses attributed to tobacco use. A $1 increase will also generate an estimated $400 million in new revenue to mitigate cuts to other vital health care programs in the state budget. As the Special Joint Committee on Georgia Revenue Structure considers the recommendations of the Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness for Georgians, we will alert you for opportunities to support a $1 increase in the tobacco tax.
The Affordable Care Act and You
Small Businesses and the Economy
A recent survey of 619 small business owners revealed that 1/3 of employers who do not offer health insurance said they would be more likely to do so because of the small business tax credits—credits which are available to 84% of small businesses here in Georgia because of the Affordable Care Act. Additionally, the report explained that there is still a gap in education about the new law to small businesses—only 43% are familiar with the new tax credits available to them. To read the full report, click here. Small Business Majority has a tax credit calculator to help small business owners to determine what their credits might be. Additionally, the National Women’s Law Center has a handy tool for non-profits to determine if they too qualify for the small business tax credits. That can be accessed here. In addition to the tax credits available through the new law, a recent report by Small Business Majority showed that the Affordable Care Act is helping to stimulate the economy and since its enactment, job growth has consistently grown and will continue to do so in the future. To learn more about health reform and the economy, click here.
To those of you in the small business community or to those who work with them, Small Business Majority is holding a webinar on Thursday February 17th at 3pm that will focus on what the new healthcare law means for small business. It will focus on both federal and state provisions to help local small business owners understand how the law will affect them. Topics being discussed include: Small business tax credits— who’s eligible for them and how to claim them; State insurance exchanges; High-risk pools; Shared responsibility; Cost containment and; Tools and resources available for small businesses interested in learning more about the law. To RSVP for the webinar, click here.
Additionally, as we gear up to celebrate the 1st Birthday of the Affordable Care Act, we are looking for small businesses that have benefitted from the new law and would love to hear your story. Please contact Amanda Ptashkin to learn how to get involved.
New Proposed Rules Benefit Students
This week, the Department of Health and Human Services released proposed rules that would apply the Affordable Care Act’s consumer protections to college health plans starting in 2012, meaning college students will be guaranteed the same consumer protections and benefits as all Americans under the new law. To read the proposed rules, click here.
National News
The Florida Ruling and Its Implications
On January 31st, U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson of Florida was the first in the nation to strike down the entire health care reform law—a suit to which Georgia was a party. To date, 25 challenges to the law have been filed and 4 have been decided: 2 upholding the law and 2 finding all or part of the law unconstitutional. Twelve cases were dismissed outright. This ruling will have little impact on what is happening on the ground where many states are already moving ahead with implementation of the ACA.
This week, Gov. Deal, along with 28 other governors, sent a letter to President Obama urging him to direct the U.S. Department of Justice to expedite the appeals process in the multistate litigation against the new law before states begin implementing portions of it. To read the letter sent to the President, click here.
Georgia consumers cannot afford to lose the benefits of the Affordable Care Act, including discounts for seniors struggling with the cost of lifesaving prescriptions, protections for children due to pre-existing conditions, and coverage for young adults up to age 26. To read a recent Georgia Health News article on the ruling, click here.
Medicaid Stability Protections May be at Risk
Stability protections, also known as “maintenance of effort” requirements, ensure that states do not adopt more restrictive eligibility levels or enrollment procedures in their Medicaid and Peach Care programs so that children and families can maintain stable health coverage. Several states have asked Congress to eliminate these federal stability protections so that they have flexibility to roll back eligibility for populations they cover at state option. While we recognize that states, including Georgia, are facing difficult budgetary climates, cutting health care coverage would make it harder for consumers to access primary care and manage conditions, resulting in poorer health outcomes and higher costs down the line. Cutting Medicaid would also have a negative impact on the doctors, pharmacies, and hospitals in Georgia who rely on Medicaid reimbursement funds. Please urge your Member of Congress in Washington to preserve stability protections in Medicaid and CHIP. For more information, click here.
MORE >What’s New in Georgia
The 2011 Legislative Session is Underway
Last week, the Georgia General Assembly briefly convened amid the ice and snow to begin the 40-day Legislative Session. Both the House and the Senate leadership have released committee assignments. In the House, the key committees for health care-related legislation are Insurance (Chair: Representative Richard Smith), Health and Human Services (Chair: Representative Sharon Cooper), and Appropriations (Chair: Representative Terry England). On the Senate side, they are Insurance and Labor (Chair: Senator Greg Goggans), Health and Human Services (Chair: Senator Renee Unterman), and Appropriations (Chair: Senator Jack Hill). Information on the House Committee assignments is available here. Information on the Senate Committee assignments is available here. The Legislature is in adjournment this week for budget hearings. The Department of Community Health budget briefing is scheduled for this Thursday, January 20th, at 10am in Room 341 of the State Capitol. Other budget briefings of interest on Thursday include the Department of Human Services budget briefing at 9am and the Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities briefing at 11am.
Georgians for a Healthy Future will be monitoring health care-related developments throughout the 2011 Legislative Session. Click here to learn about our 2011 policy priorities and here to identify your state legislators. We also now have a calendar featuring a range of health care advocacy events associated with the 2011 Legislative Session available on our site. If you’d like to get involved with a lobby day or deepen your engagement in health care advocacy, please contact Amanda Ptashkin, our Outreach & Advocacy Director.
Georgians for a Healthy Future Calls for Transparent and Systematic Health Reform Implementation in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
To make the most of the Affordable Care Act, Georgia should move swiftly to establish a commission to proactively coordinate the pieces of the law our state is required to put into place, such as an expansion of Medicaid, design elements that we can tailor for our state’s needs, such as the new health insurance exchanges, and maximize grants to strengthen our public health system and our health care workforce. A commission or task force could offer diverse input, including from the consumer, who is often overlooked. Some of this work is already happening informally within state agencies, but a systematic and transparent process accessible to consumers and stakeholders will ensure opportunities aren’t missed, all pertinent perspectives are heard and cross-cutting issues are handled efficiently. For the full article, click here.
Governor Deal Releases Budget Proposals
On Wednesday, Governor Deal released his budget proposals. The FY 2012 budget proposal for the Department of Community Health features a one percent Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids provider rate cut; the elimination of vision, dental, and podiatry services for adults within the Medicaid program; additional co-pays for patients within Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids; and reductions in funding for public health programs, among other provisions. While larger provider rate cuts had been anticipated, taken together, these budget cuts stand to negatively impact access to care for some of our state’s most vulnerable citizens. For more information on the Governor’s health care budget proposals, click here. Additional details about the proposed budget will become available during the budget hearings on Thursday and at the February Department of Community Health Board Meeting. For more information on the state budget, see the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute’s budget primer. For information on the budget process, see the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget.
Health Insurance Exchange Planning Continues
Georgians for a Healthy Future is actively engaged in the Health Insurance Exchange Feasibility Study currently underway. Under the Affordable Care Act, an exchange, or structured health insurance marketplace, must be up and running in each state by 2014. While most of the participants in the workgroups are representing the insurance industry, Georgians for a Healthy Future is representing the consumer voice in these meetings. As one of the central elements of implementation of the new health law, making the exchange work for consumers is critical. The next full meeting is this Friday, January 21st. For more information about the exchange concept and the key benchmarks to build an effective exchange, click here.
Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness Issues Final Report
The Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness has released its final recommendations to the Legislature. While there is a recommendation within the final report to increase the tobacco tax to the regional average, Georgians for a Healthy Future has joined with other advocates to oppose this 31 cent increase and instead call for at least a $1 per pack increase in the tobacco tax. A 31 cent increase still places Georgia’s tobacco tax well below the national average and is insufficient to have a quantifiable impact on deterring youth smoking rates (keeping kids from starting to use tobacco and getting others to quit). A $1 per pack increase, by contrast, has clear health benefits and would bring much needed revenue to our state at a time when other vital health care programs within the state budget are being cut.
The Affordable Care Act and You
Health Reform Implementation Grant Opportunities for States in 2011
As states, medical providers, and community health centers, among others, prepare for full implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the new law provides a range of grant opportunities to improve access to quality health care. Last month, Families USA released a compilation of selected grant opportunities that pertain to health care coverage and access, “The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Grants, Demonstration Projects, and Enhanced Federal Funding Opportunities Available in 2011.” While not exhaustive, it is a useful document to determine the types of opportunities currently available in 2011. To access the report, click here.
National News
Repeal Efforts Renewed This Week
Though the 112th Congress is only a few days old, a major issue is already taking center stage: repeal of the new health law. This Wednesday, January 19, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on HR 2, a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act. On Wednesday, January 19, please take a moment to let your Representative know that Georgians do not want our new health care protections taken away. Call 1-888-876-6242 and tell Congress to vote NO on the HR 2.
The cost of repeal is just too great. Approximately 43,500 young adults would lose their insurance coverage through their parents’ health plans. An estimated 80,400 on Medicare would see significantly higher prescription drug costs. Repeal would also strip tax credits from 120,300 Georgia small businesses. Beyond these setbacks, the financial burden is also overwhelming. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that repeal of the law will add $230 billion to the deficit over the next 10 years. To read recent reports on the cost of repeal, click here and here.
On Wednesday, January 19, please take a moment to tell your Representative that Georgians have already started seeing the benefits of the law and what reform means to you. Call 1-888-876-6242 and tell Congress to vote NO on the HR 2.
MORE >HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Here at Georgians for a Healthy Future, we wish you and your families and happy and healthy Holiday Season and New Year! The Peach Pulse will return to its every-other-week format in the New Year. Happy Holidays!
What’s New in Georgia
Georgians for a Healthy Future Unveils Our 2011 Policy Priorities
Georgians for a Healthy Future formally unveiled our 2011 policy priorities last week. The priorities were developed with broad input from community stakeholders, and we look forward to working with our coalition partners to advance them in the coming year. Our advocacy efforts will be focused on five core issues:
1) Support Consumer-Friendly Implementation of the Affordable Care Act
2) Protect and Strengthen Quality Care for Medicaid and PeachCare Beneficiaries
3) Preserve Consumer Protections for Georgians in Private Health Insurance Plans
4) Strengthen Georgia’s Public Health System
5) Support a More Sustainable Revenue Structure, Including an Increase in the Tobacco Tax
For more details about each of these policy priority areas, please visit the Georgians for a Healthy Future website. If you’d like to work with us to advance them, please contact us.
Health Care Unscrambled: Recap
Last week, Georgians for a Healthy Future held our first annual policy breakfast, Health Care Unscrambled, to discuss the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in 2011 for health care policy. Anton Gunn, Regional Director for the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), spoke about the Affordable Care Act and opportunities for collaboration and partnership between stakeholders and HHS as implementation of the law moves forward. Alan Weil, Executive Director of the National Academy for State Health Policy, spoke about key decision points facing states around implementation of the new law. Dr. Phaedra Corso from the College of Public Health at the University of Georgia presented Georgia-specific demographic and political information that policymakers and advocates should consider as they move forward on health reform. All three presentations are now available on our website. Our Executive Director, Cindy Zeldin, rounded out the breakfast by presenting Georgians for a Healthy Future’s 2011 policy priorities. We look forward to working with you in 2011 to advance these priorities, and we’ll keep you informed on developments and advocacy opportunities around these issues. Finally, we’d like to issue a special thank you to our sponsors as well as to all in attendance. We hope you will join us again next year!
Public Health Commission Releases Final Report and Recommendations
The Public Health Commission, charged by the Georgia Legislature to determine the most appropriate structure for the Division of Public Health, issued its final report to the Governor, Speaker, and Lieutenant Governor on December 1, 2010. The unanimous recommendation of the Commission is for the Division of Public Health to become an independent, cabinet-level state agency, with the Commissioner reporting directly to the Governor and serving as the state’s chief health officer. To download the Commission’s full report, click here. To learn more about how to become an advocate for public health, visit the Partner Up for Public Health campaign website.
New Department of Community Health Commissioner Named
Governor-Elect Deal has named David Cook, Executive Director of the Medical Association of Georgia, as the incoming Commissioner for the Department of Community Health. In January, he will replace Clyde Reese, who will transition to the role of Commissioner of the Department of Human Services. For more information, click here.
2011 Legislative Session Calendar
The 2011 Legislative Session is shaping up to be a busy one. With only 40 short days to get everything done, advocates needs to be well prepared and informed of important events and issues as they occur throughout the session. To that end, Georgians for a Healthy Future has created the 2011 Legislative Session Calendar. This calendar is a storehouse for upcoming advocacy events that impact the health and well being of Georgians. Check back often to see what’s happening and how to get involved. To have your event added to the calendar, please email Amanda Ptashkin.
Georgia Budget & Policy Institute Release 4 New Reports
Last week, the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute released four new reports that explore health and tax reform and what it means to the state and its residents. The first report, Tax Reform Facts: Sales Tax Exemption on Groceries, discusses alternatives for raising revenues other than shifting the burden to middle to low-income Georgians through a regressive grocery tax—a tactic that is feared to gain traction once session starts. The second report, Medicaid Expansion Facts: What’s in Store for Georgia’s Medicaid Enrollment?, explains how the new health law increases eligibility for Medicaid and provides states significant new funding to pay for the expansion and how the billions in new federal funding will help increase health coverage for nearly 500,000 Georgians without insurance. The third report, Georgia and the Federal Government Ensure Elderly and Newborns Have a Safety Net, explains how the Georgia works to protect its most vulnerable residents. This fact sheet provides an overview about who is served by the Medicaid program, how costs vary by population, and the income-eligibility criteria for Georgia’s Medicaid and PeachCare programs. The last report, New Federal Tax Credit Benefits 84% of Small Businesses in Georgia, examines the new tax credits that rise from the new health law and how they could help nearly 120,000 small businesses in Georgia better afford health coverage for their employees. For more information, visit the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute website.
The Affordable Care Act and You
State of Georgia Begins Work on Health Insurance Exchange Feasibility Study
Recently, the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget (OPB) was awarded a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to assess the feasibility of establishing a state run health benefit exchange. Under the Affordable Care Act, a health insurance exchange, or structured marketplace where individuals and small businesses can purchase affordable health insurance with federal tax credits, must be up and running in every state by 2014. States may set up their own exchange (either a single exchange for individuals and small groups or two separate exchanges) or rely on a federal fallback exchange that the Department of Health and Human Services would set up. With technical assistance from Georgia State University and the University of Georgia, OPB has been convening stakeholders over the past two months to examine these issues. Georgians for a Healthy Future and our coalition partners have been participating in these workgroups to ensure that the consumer and patient voice is at the table. The workgroups have been tasked with identifying the factors to consider, potential approaches, and the data needed for decision-making around several structural features of the exchange. The next meeting is January 14th. To get involved with one of the workgroups and for more information about upcoming meetings, click here. To learn more about health reform implementation in Georgia, see OPB’s new website at www.healthcarereform.ga.gov. For a detailed look through the consumer lens at the choices states face as they set up an exchange, click here. For a closer look at the population that would utilize the exchange, click here.
Update on Medical Loss Ratio Rules in Georgia
In November, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued interim final rules around medical loss ratio requirements. These rules require insurers operating in the individual health insurance market to spend 80 percent of premiums on medical services and were issued following a deliberative process by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), which developed the model regulation, as charged to do under the health law. These requirements will encourage transparency and facilitate better value for consumers. However, this win for consumers is at risk in Georgia. Our Insurance Department has indicated it will seek an adjustment for Georgia insurers under a process laid out within the federal rules. States may apply for an adjustment if the rules will destabilize their insurance marketplace. To determine this, HHS will weigh five factors when considering adjustment requests: number of insurers likely to leave the market, number of individuals affected, availability of other coverage options, impact on premiums, and availability of brokers and agents. Once a request is made, public comment will be accepted for 10 days, and HHS has 30 days to consider the request. If you would like to join with Georgians for a Healthy Future as we develop our written comments, please contact us. For more information on this issue, click here.
New Resources Available
New Resources are being released daily to help states and consumers understand the new health law. Families USA has a new report dedicated to best practices states can take in implementing state health insurance exchanges and a new report on how health reform aims at improving the lives of seniors and people with disabilities. The Commonwealth Fund released a report examining how baby boomers will be impacted by the new law and found that boomers in Southern and Western states in particular will benefit from provisions in the law.
The National Academy for State Health Policy has updated their new State Refo(u)rum website with useful information on implementing the new health law from work plans and timelines to state-specific analyses. The Kaiser Family Foundation has also released a new issue brief entitled the Impact of Health Reform on Women’s Access to Coverage and Care. The issue brief reviews how the new law is expected to affect access to care and affordability of health coverage for women and explains the provisions in the new law related to preventive screening services, reproductive health, maternity care and women on Medicare.
National News
Child Nutrition Bill Signed by President
This week, President Obama signed the The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. The passage of this bill marks an important success in the fight against child hunger and childhood obesity, as it will expand access to healthy school meals and will establish higher nutritional standards for school lunches. A summary of the Act’s key provisions, prepared by the Food Research and Action Center, can be found here. To read a recent Washington Post article highlighting 12 of the key changes in the new law, click here.
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