News: Federal Health Care Reform Update
Your national AAP is keeping track of the Federal Health Care Reform debate
Update 2-26-10: On Monday, February 22nd, President Obama released his health reform proposal. The 11-page document uses the United States Senate’s health reform bill passed on December 24, 2009, as a foundation for final health reform legislation.
Comparing the proposal against the Academy’s priorities, the AAP achieved several legislative victories in the President’s plan:
- Prevention services (Bright Futures) would be a required health benefit in all state-regulated insurance, including those plans in the proposed health insurance exchange. Bright Futures services would be a no co-pay benefit in all state-regulated group health insurance plans.
- A new Medicaid state option would be created to permit Medicaid enrollees with at least two chronic conditions to designate a provider as a medical home (referred to as “health homes” in the legislation). States that take up the option would receive a 90 percent Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for two years.
- Subspecialty workforce provisions are included, which dedicate funding for loan forgiveness for individuals entering into pediatric subspecialty fields.
- The essential benefits package in the health insurance exchange includes rehabilitative, habilitative, mental and behavioral health services, as well as other pediatric services, including vision and oral health.
Unfortunately, the United States House of Representatives’ health reform bill’s provision that would increase Medicaid payment to 100 percent of Medicare over three years is not included in the Senate’s health reform bill or in the President’s proposal..
For more information on this update, click on the link below:
Federal Update 2-26-2010 (PDF)
Federal Update 1-29-2010 -- More Progress on Resolving Differences (PDF)
Federal Update 1-15-2010 -- Progress on Resolving Differences (PDF)
Federal Update 12-24-2009 -- Senate passes Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PDF)
Federal Update 11-13-2009 -- House passes Affordable Health Care for America Act (PDF)
