Health Care Reform Coordinating Council Mtg

Health Care Reform Coordinating Council Mtg

Location:Department of Legislative Services Building, Joint Committee Room, 90 State Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401

Time:1:00PM Thursday, May 6th

http://www.healthreform.maryland.gov/

to be on their email list, send email to info@hilltop.umbc.edu, subject: distribution list

other summaries

it was suggested that commonwealth fund and rwjf have good summaries. have not had a chance to look at that as well.

Maryland only state with plan for high-risk insurance pool

http://www.congress.org/news/2010/04/27/states_lag_on_highrisk_pools

congrats to our legislators

Revised list of reform summaries

for what its worth, here is a list of some of the best summaries that I have seen on the reform bill.  I have ordered them in terms of my assessment of their usefulness.  As indicated, I think it crucial to put together a comprehensive communications strategy to turn around the polls and ensure that future sessions of congress do not kill this bill.  The only key piece missing is debunking the false myths, such as death panels, government takeover, coming between doctor and patient, etc. 

1) 1) times magazine

tinyurl.com/yj7pp82

this is the best package, has a simple set of charts, plus a good article on the cost efficiency issues which has been missing for the most part from other reviews.


2) kaiser summary

http://www.kff.org/healthreform/8061.cfm

3)  consumer reports
http://tinyurl.com/yj2ls4c



4) another useful source plus summary of sources

healthreform.gov

this site is operated by USHHS

5) http://www.unionvoice.org/afgerocks/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=29612357

afge review of benefits of new law, very nice summary.


6)  white house 
http://bit.ly/cbn9jH

this is a good set of fact sheets from the white house, even though I would like to see more issues covered.


7) kiplinger

kiplinger has a nice article on impact of reform on retirees

tinyurl.com/yfdv3vp

Kaiser summary

http://www.kff.org/healthreform/8061.cfm

this is a detailed but good summary of the reform bill and the timelines.  Best overall package I have seen.

high risk pools

http://www.hhs.gov/ociio/initiative/hi_risk_pool_facts.htmlh

here is link to a fact sheet on high risk pools. funds are available july 1, 2010. 

Actuary report paints mixed picture

http://smtp01.kaiserhealthnews.org/t/9895/430110/9835/0/

the report from cms actuary indicates more people will be covered but costs will be higher, hospitals will suffer, as will medicare advantage plans.  paints a more negative picture for obama and dems. 

an answer to my search for a communications strategy

In previous posts, I have indicated a need for a communications strategy.   The following article from the Wash. Post describes such a white house plan.  Very glad to see.

http://tinyurl.com/2ahhyf2

feds cover many state costs

http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3161

good article by center for budget and policy priorities, a great think thank on low income groups. 

alliance session

mms://kaiserfam.wmod.llnwd.net/a2355/o23/2010/041610_alliance_newbill_multi_128k.wmv

here I participate in an alliance for health reform session on health reform 4/16/10 .  You can hear me ask my questions around minute 51.  and about 5 minutes later followup. 

next steps

One of the things that I feel is very important is to develop a comprehensive communication strategy for educating the public as to what is in the reform package.  there are quite a few documents out there as listed in my blog, but we need it all in one simple place that gets shared widely. Just a few pages with the impact on the major groups, consumers, industries, the health system, etc; particular emphasis on how the bill saves money and makes the system more efficient, and debunks the key myths.

I see this as essential.  if we are to turn around the polls which are negative on reform and also to keep in the dems in control of congress. One part of this strategy is to get Obama to talk from the oval office or fireside chat.

I hope to work on a communications strategy for at least the Montgomery County section of Obama's Organizing for America and welcome others to work with me wherever you live. 

On another note, I think Senator Baucus needs to get more credit for the bill.  it was many of his ideas back in a November 2008 paper that laid the groundwork for the bill that passed.  he incoroporated the lessons of Massachusetts and added many other key provisions.

here is another source for a good summary of legislation

http://www.allhealth.org/briefingmaterials/MVCOverviewofHealthReformLegislation--FINAL-1742.pdf

Poll: Opposition To Health Law Grows

go to following link to see article. our work is cut out for us, as we need to keep dems in power so this doesn't get turned around.  

http://smtp01.kaiserhealthnews.org/t/9626/430110/9627/0/

van hollen open house

Went to Van Hollen Open House last night. While majority of crowd supported reform, the tea partiers were loud. We supporters have our work cut out for us this fall. The 500 person room was almost full. I would guess 80% supported reform.  Van Hollen handled crowd reasonably well, but it was a challenge. 

How Americans Benefit from New Health Care Law

http://www.unionvoice.org/afgerocks/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=29612357
afge review of benefits of new law, very nice summary.

two more sources that look good.

http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/8023-R.pdf  - Summary

http://www.kff.org/healthreform/sidebyside.cfm   - Select Final Health Reform Law and select any or all topics.

consumer reports summary

https://secure.consumersunion.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=Rx_coverage_and_email_signup&JServSessionIdr004=dztl8g4q34.app243a

this is a fairly good summary.

another useful source plus summary of sources

healthreform.gov

this site is operated by USHHS

so here is a listing of sources I have cited in order of usefulness

1) times magazine

tinyurl.com/yj7pp82

this is the best package, has a simple set of charts, plus a good article on the cost efficiency issues which has been missing for the most part from other reviews.


2) consumer reports
http://tinyurl.com/yj2ls4c

3) white house 
http://bit.ly/cbn9jH

this is a good set of fact sheets from the white house, even though I would like to see more issues covered.

3) HHS site

healthreform.gov

4) kiplinger

kiplinger has a nice article on impact of reform on retirees

tinyurl.com/yfdv3vp

another good source

https://secure.consumersunion.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=Rx_coverage_and_email_signup&JServSessionIdr004=dztl8g4q34.app243a

here is another good source, hope you can access it. 

I will put together a list soon of what I think are the best sources, see previous posts. 

white house fact sheets

http://bit.ly/cbn9jH

this is a good set of fact sheets from the white house, even though I would like to see more issues covered.