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Affordable, Quality Health Care for All

Since 2003, at least three states - Maine, Vermont, and Massachusetts - and the city of San Francisco have enacted legislation with the express goal of ensuring all residents have access to health care coverage. All of these initiatives, particularly those in Maine and Vermont, pursue a comprehensive approach to reform - addressing cost, quality, and access. These efforts have spurred action in other states, where lawmakers in Colorado, Washington, New York, Wisconsin, and elsewhere learn from and build on the experience of early leaders. This section discusses priorities for comprehensive reform, the road to reform, and model initiatives in key states, specifically Wisconsin.

From the Dispatch

Federal Health Law Helping Cash-Strapped States -- And Right-wing State Leaders Lining up to Benefit

Sep 09, 2010

While the right wing continues their rhetoric to repeal, many of the same states calling loudly in both legislatures and courts for the law's rejection are simultaneously preparing to implement it and benefiting from the opportunities the health care overhaul provides them. In fact, a Department of Health and Human Services release revealed that, of the 20 states who have joined the constitutionally dubious multi-state lawsuit seeking to overturn the health care law, eight of them - Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, and Washington - were claiming subsidies for retired state government employees provided by the very law their states are arguing should be thrown out by the courts.

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New Health Insurance Plans Required to Provide Free Preventive Health Care

Jul 22, 2010

New federal regulations were issued that will guarantee affordable preventive care services for millions of Americans. The new interim final regulations specify that new health insurance policies beginning on or after September 23, 2010, must include preventive services recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, as well as preventive services recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in their coverage plans. In addition, health plans will be prohibited from charging co-payments, co-insurance or deductibles for these services when they are delivered by network providers.
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Bills on Single-Payer and Health Reform Implementation Move Forward in California

Jul 08, 2010

California lawmakers worked feverishly at the end of June to move forward significant health reform legislation, including implementing new Medicaid rules for the next five years, setting a framework for establishing health insurance exchanges, and moving the state towards a single-payer health care system.
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New Health Insurance Rules Hailed as Patient's Bill of Rights

Jun 24, 2010

Marking the 90 day anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act, President Obama used the occasion to announce the implementation of a Patient’s Bill of Rights. After meeting privately with health insurance CEOs and state insurance commissioners, the White House sent a signal to insurers and to the public that the President intends to monitor how the insurance industry responds to the law’s implementation. In warning industry executives to refrain from using the law as an opportunity to boost unjustifiable rate increases, the Administration unveiled new regulations that will govern how new consumer protection provisions are implemented.
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