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Big changes to come under new health care law By Jonathan Samples Staff Reporter
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled, the presidential election is over and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is here to stay. As the country prepares for full implementation of the new health care reforms in 2014, various organizations such as the DuPage County Health Department are taking it upon themselves to educate the community about just what the new law will mean for them. That education initiative ramped up Jan. 23, as area nonprofits were invited to take part in a special educational seminar with policy experts in a variety of health related issues. The goal of the seminar was to underscore the central role many non-profits play as sources of community outreach and highlight ways they can connect with their clients to ensure they are enrolled in and taking full advantage of the ACA. “Not-for-profits play a whole variety of roles within the community,” said Maureen McHugh, executive director of the DuPage County Health Department.“When I look out in the audience,we have food banks, we have the People’s Resource Center -- which is food, clothing, and social services -- we have Metropolitan Family Services, which, again, is a whole range of services on the community.”
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One of the more important aspects of the ACA, according to Bouman, is that it will provide health care coverage to 36 million of the 50 million people currently uninsured in the country. “People need to realize how dysfunctional the current system is,” Bouman said. “While change See ACT, page 3
Vol. 5 No. 22
Lockport Boys Bowling Team
STATE CHAMPS
McHugh said that with implementation of the ACA already under way, it is important for non-profits to recognize what effects the Act will have on their clients, many of whom are uninsured or on Medicaid. “So when we talk about care coordination, when we talk about enrollment, when we talk about the overall health of the client and linking them into services, non-for-profits have to get involved.” The speakers at Wednesday’s summit ranged from experts in the health care field to legal advocates who work with people in helping them access health care benefits. They included John Bouman, president of the Shriver Center, Stephanie Altman, program and policy director with Health and Disability Advocates, Stephani Becker, senior policy analyst with HAD, and Kathy Chan, associate director of the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition.
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JANUARY 30, 2013
Scott Taylor/Bugle Staff
Lockport’s Matt Davis (left), Shane Matejcak and Brian Hodolitz celebrate their state championship.
E
ight games after nearly being eliminated from competition, the Lockport Township High School Boy’s Bowling Team was crowned state champions Saturday,
capping off one of the greatest comebacks in state history to claim the state title with a 12,846 total. See Sports, Page 11