Health Care Reform: How Does It Affect You

Healthcare Reform and the Affordable Care Act

On January 31, 2011, Judge Roger Vinson in Florida et al v. United States Department of Health and Human Services declared the law unconstitutional in an action brought by 26 states, on the grounds that the individual mandate to purchase insurance exceeds the authority of Congress to regulate interstate commerce. Vinson further ruled the clause was not severable, which had the effect of striking down the entire law.[269][270]

The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case, with oral arguments expected in March 2012 and a decision expected by June 2012.

HOW IT AFFECTS LOCAL PUBL​IC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS

Community and Clinical Prevention ($126 million):
Information taken from http://www.healthreform.gov/newsroom/acaprevention.html
The initiative supports prevention activities that we know will work to reduce health care costs and improve the promotion of health and wellness.

  • Putting Prevention to Work ($74 million).  Support federal, state and community initiatives touse evidence-based interventions to address tobacco control, obesity prevention, HIV-related health disparities, and better nutrition and physical activity. 
  •  Primary and Behavioral Health Integration ($20 million).  Assist communities with the coordination and integration of primary care services into publicly-funded community mental health and other community-based behavioral health settings. 
  • Obesity Prevention and Fitness ($16 million).  Advance activities to improve nutrition and increase physical activity to promote healthy lifestyles and reduce obesity related conditions and costs. These activities will support the First Lady’s “Let’s Move!” initiative and help implement recommendations of the President’s Childhood Obesity Task Force.
  • Tobacco Cessation ($16 million). Implement anti-tobacco media campaigns showing the negative health consequences of tobacco use, telephone-based tobacco cessation services, and outreach programs targeting vulnerable populations. 

Public Health Infrastructure ($70 million)
The allocation strengthens state and local capacity to prepare health departments to meet 21st century challenges. 

  • Public Health Infrastructure ($50 million).  Support state, local, and tribal public health infrastructure to advance health promotion and disease prevention through improved information technology, workforce training, and regulation and policy development.
  •  Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Grants ($20 million). Build state and local capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. 

Research and Tracking ($31 million):
The initiative supports the Affordable Care Act’s expansion of coverage for community and clinical preventive services by increasing resources for guidance and evaluation of preventive services. 

  • Surveillance ($21 million).  Fund data collection and analysis to measure the impact of health reform and support strategic planning.
  • Community Preventive Services Task Force ($5 million).  Strengthen CDC’s Community Guide by supporting the Task Force on Community Preventive Services’ efforts to identify and disseminate additional evidence-based recommendations on important public health decisions to inform policymakers, practitioners, and other decision makers.
  • Clinical Preventive Services Task Force ($5 million). Expand the development of recommendations for clinical preventive services, with enhanced transparency and public involvement in the processes of the Task Force.

Public Health Training ($23 million):
These funds support the training of existing and next generation public health professionals.

  • Public Health Workforce ($8 million).  Expand CDC public health workforce programs to increase the number of fellows trained and placed in public health positions.
  • Public Health Training Centers ($15 million).  Support training of public health providers to advance preventive medicine, health promotion and disease prevention, and improve the access and quality of health services in medically underserved communities.