Health Care Reform and Implications for Filipino

American Health

Increased Access to Care, Improved Preventive Care and Measures to Improve

Quality and Address Disparities

Amina Farhadi, JD Reproductive Justice Fellow

July 8, 2011

Health Care Reform

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010

PPACA will improve the health of communities of color by making several reforms to the nation’s health care system:

•Increased Access to Health Care

•Increased Coverage of Preventive Health Services

•Improve Quality of Care and Address Health and Health Care Disparities

Increased Access to Health CarePPACA expands both public and private insurance

Currently (As of Sept. 2010)•Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plans (High Risk Pools)

•Consumer Protections

•Community Health Centers

Increased Access to Health Care

Starting 2014 •Medicaid Expansion

•Health Insurance Exchanges – an online market place for purchasing insurance

Improved Access to Preventive Care PPACA makes significant investments in preventive care and public health initiatives, including the creation of the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which received $500 million in fiscal year 2010. This money will go to programs such as the Community Transformation Grant Program, which provides grants to state and local agencies, and community based organizations (CBOs) that engage in evidence-based activities to promote chronic disease prevention.

•Private Insurance

•Medicaid

•Community Health Centers

Improving Quality and Addressing Disparities

PPACA contains numerous provisions aimed at lessening racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, age, gender and geographical disparities in health and health care.

•National Quality Strategy and Priorities – Promoting Patient Centered Care – Promoting Effective Communication and Coordination of Care

•National Stakeholder Strategy on Achieving Health Equity

Resources • For more information on the effect of the PPACA on Asian American,

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities, please visit our health care reform resource center at http://www.apiahf.org/policy-and-advocacy/health-care-reform-resource-center.

• For more information on the National Quality Strategy, see http://www.healthcare.gov/center/reports/quality03212011a.html.

• For more information on the National Stakeholder Strategy for Achieving Health Equity, see http://www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov/npa/templates/content.aspx?lvl=1&lvlid=33&ID=286.