Federal Health Reform Enacted
In the largest single expansion of health insurance since enactment of Medicare and Medicaid, Congress enacted the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590) and the Health Care and Educational Affordability Reconciliation Act (H.R. 4872). Congress had been working for more than a year on health care reform, with both houses having passed similar, but different approaches to reform in November and December 2009. The federal law provides broad concepts and direction, though much of the implementing detail over the next couple of years will come through the regulatory process. The Washington State Hospital Association will continue to analyze the impacts on hospitals.
When fully implemented, the health care reform law will extend health insurance to about 32 million people. About 95 percent of legal residents or 92 percent of people residing in the country will have health insurance or coverage. The cost of the reform package is about $940 billion over 10 years, financed through cuts to health care providers and new taxes.
Communication Materials
Spotlight on Health Care Reform Bulletins
Information on the Law and Impacts on Hospitals
- Detailed WSHA Summary
- Brief Summary for Hospitals
- Timeline of Major Provisions New!
- AHA's Summary of Requirements for Hospitals as Employers New!
- Kaiser Family Foundation Summary of Health Reform Law
- WSHA's Principles on Health Care Reform
Materials on Delivery Reforms
- AHA's Synthesis of Bundled Payments New!
- AHA's Report on Accountable Care Organizations New!
- Accountable Care Organizations by HLB, Inc. - Provided by CHA
- Accountable Care Organizations by Deloitte - Provided by CHA