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NEWS
6 SIGNAL TRIBUNE
Long Beach public forum provides information on new healthcare law Sean Belk Staff Writer
Local residents and business owners got a brief rundown on the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama’s new law that enacts significant changes to the federal healthcare system. Fifth District Long Beach City Councilmember Gerrie Schipske moderated a public forum about the law at Houssels
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Forum at Long Beach Memorial Hospital on Monday, April 15. The event, organized by Schipske, Long Beach Memorial, Cal State Long Beach’s Department of Health Care Administration and the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, provided presentations from California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones and U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Region IX Director Herb K. Schultz. Full implementation of the new law, officially known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, goes into effect Jan. 1, 2014, when most
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APRIL 19, 2013
United States citizens will be required to get health insurance. Most residents and business owners, however, still have a vague understanding of the mandates, new healthcare officials stated. At the forum of roughly 100 attendees, only a handful of people raised their hands when asked if they have a complete knowledge of the Sean Belk/Signal Tribune new law. California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones answers questions during a public forum about the Schultz, who Affordable Care Act at Long Beach Memorial Hospital on April 15. works for the United States the forum stated that many who ance through an employer. government’s principal agency have insurance plans can only Under the new law, individufor protecting the health of all afford “bare-minimum policies” als with their families and those Americans and providing essen- that may not cover much at all, who work for “small employtial human services, called the adding that the current system ers,” defined as having under forum in Long Beach a “call to has led to a strain on the federal 50 employees, will have access action” to prepare for upcom- budget and higher premium to getting health insurance ing mandates. costs as the country’s popula- through a newly expanded Schipske added that, “It’s tion continues to age. Medi-Cal program or through a probably one of the most signifThe new healthcare regula- new “marketplace” in which icant pieces of healthcare legis- tory policy, however, aims to individuals will be able to lation we’ve had in this country increase health-insurance cov- receive tax credits to assist in since the initiation of Medicare, erage for Americans and lower paying monthly health-insurand, because of it, there are overall costs of health care in ance premiums for “out of going to be substantial changes the country, while competition pocket” expenses. in this country in terms of get- among insurers is expected to Jones said the new healthting affordable, accessible, keep rates competitive, the care law is constructed in a way quality health care.” that will not only allow more video states. According to the U.S. CenSchultz said that, by Oct. 1 people to receive health insursus Bureau, there were just of this year, people will be able ance and make sure they under 50 million people in the to apply for programs that pro- receive care earlier, but will U.S. without health insurance in vide assistance aimed at lower- also reduce the “cost share” 2010. A video produced by the ing coverage costs as an associated with those who pay Kaiser Foundation presented at alternative to receiving insursee HEALTH CARE page 8
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