The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is one of the most highly contested healthcare laws and continues to be actively debated by legislatures, providers and patients alike. Among other factors, the recent midterm elections mark a critical shift in the political landscape, which may have an impact on the future of the PPACA.
The following 10 articles from the last month provide the most up-to-date information on the status of the PPACA from various perspectives.
1. PPACA not a big issue with midterm voters, survey finds
An October poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation revealed that among all of the issues that influenced voters in the midterm elections last week, the PPACA was not high on the list.
2. How some companies are trying to escape penalties under the PPACA
According to the Wall Street Journal, many employers are attempting to find ways to cover their full-time employees while keeping costs low in preparation for the employer mandate under the PPACA that will take effect next year.
3. RAND: Insurance enrollment would drop 70% if PPACA subsidies were eliminated
According to a RAND study, eliminating tax subsidies available to low- and middle-income people under the PPACA would reduce enrollment on the individual market and increase premiums.
4. Most uninsured don't know start date for PAPCA open enrollment, poll finds
Only 11 percent of the uninsured were aware that the next open enrollment period for the PPACA exchanges starts begins Nov. 15, according to a Kaiser Health Tracking poll.
5. Could Republicans dismantle the PPACA as we know it?
This recent blog post discusses the widespread negative perception of the PPACA among Americans and how Republicans could take it apart.
6. PPACA initiative will give $114M in upfront investments to ACOs
CMS announced a new initiative available to Medicare Shared Saving Program accountable care organizations that will provide upfront investments in infrastructure and redesigned care process to help ACOs provide high-quality care. The initiative, called the ACO Investment Model, will provide up to $114 million in upfront investments to as many as 75 ACOs.
7. Physicians give PPACA improved ratings: 16 findings
According to a recent survey by The Medicus Firm, physicians gave slightly better ratings of the PPACA this year than last year, though skepticism of healthcare reform continues to pervade the physician workforce.
8. Majority of those insured under the PPACA plan to change healthcare plans in 2015
Two-thirds of Americans insured under the PPACA plan to switch healthcare plans in 2015, according to a survey by Radius Global Market Research.
9. 5 biggest challenges for the PPACA exchanges in their second year
During the second open enrollment period for the PPACA exchanges beginning Nov. 15, federal officials seeking to get the remaining eligible uninsured population signed up for coverage will face five main challenges, Drew Altman, president and CEO of the Kaiser Family Foundation, writes in The Wall Street Journal.
10. The new PPACA electronic payments environment and what healthcare providers need to know
KeyBank’s Preparing for the New PPACA Electronic Payments Environment white paper includes an explanation of new rules, a discussion of the benefits and challenges of going electronic, and a detailed "provider’s checklist." This wealth of information will help providers plan for the changes and take the most appropriate action.