Health Care Reform Questions and Answers
Recently, health care reform has been in the news almost daily and as proposed changes make their way through the federal legislature; you may have questions about how these changes will affect you and ProMedica Health System. To that end, we will answer questions about reform here on this web page regularly.
If you have a question, please submit it to advocacy@promedica.org
and if your question is selected, the answer will be published here. Thank you for your interest in this important issue and your continued support for ProMedica Health System.
Q & A
Q: What is the timeline for health care reform legislation?
A: Currently, the goal is for Congress to pass legislation following the August recess so that the conference committee can reconcile the House and Senate bills and present the package to the President prior to the end of the year.
Q: Will the proposed changes ensure that all Americans are provided health insurance?
A: There are myriad proposals under consideration at this time and the overall goal is to ensure coverage for all citizens, but details have yet to be finalized. It is important to note that the number of uninsured Americans fluctuates dependent upon how they are measured, as there are many who opt out of available coverage and many who are underinsured.
Q: How much will the proposed changes cost and how will they be funded?
A: The proposed cost is approximately $1.2 trillion over the next ten years. Several ideas are under consideration as methods to pay for the reform, including savings from streamlining existing programs; revenue from employers; raising taxes on upper income individuals, as well as other options.
Q: Is ProMedica engaged in the health care reform debate?
A: Yes, ProMedica is in regular contact with elected officials from our region as well as with their respective staff members. As proposals are considered, we are voicing our recommendations as appropriate. We are actively engaged in the process and we appreciate the willingness of our elected officials to share information with us and provide us the opportunity to comment.
Q: How will ProMedica manage proposed changes?
A: Until we know what the new legislation is, we cannot make specific plans. However as a health care system with a breadth and depth of services, we are poised to manage reform because some areas of our business model may benefit while others do not, and with our system model, we can better balance the potential impact.
Q: Are there resources available where I can learn more?
A: Yes, the Advocacy page of promedica.org has regular updates as information becomes available. You may also check these reputable websites below, as they are updated regularly.