Health Care Implementation
Background
On March 23, 2010, comprehensive health care reform legislation was signed into law by the President. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) contains several provisions of importance to children with and surviving childhood cancer. In April, 2009, Children’s Cause for Cancer Advocacy (CCCA) released Principles for Health Care Reform outlining key recommendations for inclusion in the health care reform law. CCCA actively advocated on Capitol Hill and in the private sector for reform of the nation’s health care system so that children with cancer and childhood cancer survivors could receive quality, comprehensive care.
Legislation
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R.3590) establishes safeguards and enhances access to care for children with and surviving childhood cancer. Select provisions of the law are outlined below.
- Pre-existing Conditions: Prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage on the basis of any health status-related factor
- Health Care Exchanges: Establishes a method by which consumers can compare health plans and choose the coverage option that fits their medical needs
- Essential Health Benefits: Mandates that plans offer in the health care exchanges that cover critical categories of benefits to consumers
- Medicaid: Expands eligibility of low income Americans to increase their access to health care coverage
- Dependent Coverage: Requires health plans to offer coverage to an insured individual’s dependents up to age 26
- Cures Acceleration Network: Creates a new office at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to make grants available to help facilitate the process of turning discoveries into new therapies.
CCCA Role
In addition to promoting its Principles on Health Care Reform and advocating for key provisions prior to the passage of the law, CCCA monitors and comments on the implementation process of PPACA as federal agencies implement the health care reform law. CCCA has provided many updates on health care reform to advocates and others through its e-Newsletter. After careful analysis, CCCA has joined other cancer advocacy groups by signing letters on a range of policy issues related to the law’s implementation. For example, CCCA has signed various letters regarding the establishment of the health care exchanges, coverage of preventive benefits, and on the dependent coverage provisions. Prior to endorsement of a position, CCCA considers the direct implications for children with cancer and their families.