In March 2010, national health care reform legislation that originally developed in the U.S. Senate passed the U.S. House of Representatives and was then signed into law by President Obama, marking a historic day in the progress towards healthcare coverage for all Americans. The MHA Health Reform Resource Center will monitor provisions of the law that affect Michigan hospitals and health systems and provide tools, information and resources for members as reform is implemented.

What's New

A key provision of the Affordable Care Act is expanding health insurance coverage, which is partially addressed by expanding state Medicaid programs. The MHA strongly supports expanding Michigan’s Medicaid program under this provision, which would increase eligibility to adults up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level and potentially cover about 450,000 additional residents.

Earlier this year, the MHA convened the Expand Medicaid coalition, which held a joint news conference Feb. 6 where Gov. Rick Snyder appeared with the coalition and announced his support for Medicaid expansion. Nevertheless, there is still significant work to be done.

The MHA and the Expand Medicaid coalition have launched a steady drumbeat of activity since early February and ask that members continue to engage. Hospitals should continue contacting their legislators, submitting letters or viewpoints to your local media outlets, sharing the Expand Medicaid social media pages and more.

Hospitals/health systems can act today. Here's how:

• click here to locate and contact legislators and explain why expansion is critical to your community
• link to www.expandmedicaid.com on your websites and use the tools available such as the Saves Money, Saves Lives videos and studies with hospital board members and others
• invite your lawmaker to your hospital or facility to learn how Medicaid expansion will help their community
• follow/like the Expand Medicaid Facebook and Twitter accounts and share its posts and retweet via your social media channels Members with questions about legislative issues may contact David Finkbeiner.

Members with questions about Expand Medicaid coalition efforts may contact Ruthanne Sudderth.

MHA Member Tools and Reform Provision Guidance

• Dec. 21, 2012: MHA Comments on Essential Health Benefits Proposed Rule
• Nov. 26, 2012: Proposed Rule - Health Insurance Market and Rate Review Rules
• Nov. 26, 2012: Proposed Rule - Essential Health Benefits Standards
• National Healthcare Reform Key Messages & Talking Points
• June 28, 2012 Supreme Court Ruling on the Constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act
• Affordable Care Act Implementation Timeline
• Affordable Care Act Talking Points
• Affordable Care Act Key Provisions
• Community Health Needs Assessments
• Final Rule on Health Insurance Exchanges
• Member Guide to ACOs, Medicare Shared Savings Program
• National Worksite Wellness Program
• MHA Comments on Essential Health Benefits Bulletin
• HRET Disparities Toolkit: This free toolkit was released by the Health Research & Educational Trust (HRET) in February 2012 to reflect Affordable Care Act requirements, meaniningful use criteria and Joint Commission standards. The tool will help hospitals and health systems collect data on patient race, ethnicity, disability and more for quality improvement purposes, as required by the ACA.

Affordable Care Act - Legislative Details

• U.S. Senate Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - HR 3590
• healthcare and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010 – HR 4872
• Repealing the Job-killing healthcare Law Act - HR 2
• Congressional Budget Office Estimate of Repealing the Affordable Care Act
• U.S. House Republican Report on Economic Affects of the Affordable Care Act

If you have any questions regarding the MHA's views on national healthcare reform, please contact Laura Appel, executive director, Health Reform Resource Center, at the MHA at (517) 703-8601.