Health reform’s complicated – but it can be easily explained. The good folks at the Kaiser Family Foundation have produced a terrific video – that’s entertaining to boot – laying out pros and cons, explaining the rationale behind and opposition to reform, and all from a neutral perspective.
Kaiser’s reform site also has an interactive timeline, detailing the changes by year, and a detailed, here-it-all-is view here.
If you’re interested in how reform affects Medicare, Medicaid, employes, taxes – whatever – the timeline page allows you to sort and select only what you want. Seniors concerned about death panels and reductions in the Medicare program would find a lot of comfort here.
One part of reform I’m really looking forward to – simplified administration. Here’s KFF’s synopsis:
Simplify health insurance administration by adopting a single set of operating rules for eligibility verification and claims status (rules adopted July 1, 2011; effective January 1, 2013), electronic funds transfers and health care payment and remittance (rules adopted July 1, 2012; effective January 1, 2014), and health claims or equivalent encounter information, enrollment and disenrollment in a health plan, health plan premium payments, and referral certification and authorization (rules adopted July 1, 2014; effective January 1, 2016). Health plans must document compliance with these standards or face a penalty of no more than $1 per covered life. (Effective April 1, 2014).
Good work by the good folks at KFF!
Sep
27
