NASHVILLE – Rima Cohen, Health Policy counselor to U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, spoke about the current status of health care reform and the Obama Administration’s view on next steps in reform implementation at a meeting of the Nashville Health Care Council today.
In her speech, Cohen spoke about the benefits the Affordable Care Act offers employers.
“Businesses large and small have seen the cost of providing health coverage to their employees rise dramatically,” Cohen said. “The Affordable Care Act preserves what is best about our current health care system while helping to give employers and employees more affordable coverage. The Act builds on our employer based system and works to control costs, stabilize insurance markets, and provide new protections for employers and their workers.”
More than 200 health care industry executives attended the briefing at the Marriott in Cool Springs. The program was the first in a year-long series the Council is offering members to offer insights on provisions of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, including policy development, implementation and potential outcomes. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is the presenting sponsor of the series.
“The Council was delighted to host Ms. Cohen here in Nashville. The new law will impact our members and how they deliver care in a number of ways, and it was very valuable to gain an understanding of the Obama Administration’s perspectives as this legislation is rolled out for nationwide implementation,” said Caroline Young, president of the Nashville Health Care Council.
Implementation of the new law will take effect over the next four years. Among the major areas that are affected are Medicaid eligibility, Medicare benefits, subsidization and incentives for insurance premiums and benefits, the establishment of health insurance exchanges and more support of medical research.
About the Nashville Health Care Council:
The Nashville Health Care Council, founded in 1995 as an initiative of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, is an association of health care industry leaders working together to further establish Nashville’s position as the nation’s health care industry capital. For more information on the Council, please visit www.healthcarecouncil.com.