 Health Reform in Maryland: Helping libraries be ready for changes and questions Suzanne Schlattman, MSW, MPH Maryland Health Care for All! Coalition Summer 2013

Goal and Agenda  To educate librarians about the changes coming to Maryland’s health care system this fall under health reform  Watch Kaiser Family Foundation Video  Maryland-specific update  Important Dates  Resources  Questions

Kaiser Family Foundation Video video/

Key Points: What the law is doing now  The law was signed in 2010 and is already having an impact:  New consumer protections make insurance a better value  Young adults can stay on parents’ coverage up to age 26  Tax credits for small businesses  Increased funding to expand safety net services

Key Points: What the law will do in the future  Employer  Most people won’t see changes in their insurance coverage, especially if they already have coverage they like either through their employer or through Medicare.  Government  Medicaid will expand to cover over 100,000 more Marylanders.  Self-pay  People who can’t get insurance through their employer can shop with the benefit of tax credits in Maryland’s new insurance marketplace or outside the marketplace. This will include about 150,000 Marylanders.  None  People who can’t afford coverage, have religious reasons for not getting coverage, or can’t get coverage because they are not legal citizens will still be able to access Emergency Room or other safety net services, and will not be penalized for not getting insurance.

Eligibility Determination  Many people in your community may be eligible for various new coverage programs

 Maryland’s Exchange is called the Maryland Health Connection Maryland Updates since ACA 101

Important Dates  If you’re eligible for anything, Connector Entity, Assisters and In-person application counselors can help enroll you starting this fall.  Enrollment into the Maryland Health Connection: October 1, March 31, 2014  Enrollment into Medicaid: January 1, 2014

Resources  Kaiser Family Foundation:  Videos and Widgets for websites  Consumer Reports Publications: free-guides-to-health-care-reform-and-medicare/index.htmhttp:// free-guides-to-health-care-reform-and-medicare/index.htm  Seven Things You Need to Know About Health Reform (Eng/Span)  Medicare: Six things you need to know now (Eng/Span)  Maryland Office of Health Reform:  Upcoming meetings/public comment periods  Maryland Health Benefit Exchange:  Outreach toolkits, job announcements, etc.  US HHS website:  General health insurance literacy materials in multiple languages/formats

Resources  Maryland Health Connection:  Helpline currently available M-F 8-6PM  Enrollment website launching late summer/early fall 2013  Connector Entities  Calvert Healthcare Solutions (Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s Counties)  Health Care Access Maryland (Anne Arundel, Baltimore City and Baltimore County)  Healthy Howard (Allegany, Carroll, Frederic, Garrett, Howard, Washington Counties)  Montgomery County Department of Health (Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties)  SEEDCO (Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot Counties)  Worcester County Health Department (Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester Counties)

Discussion

Thank you! Suzanne Schlattman (410) St. Paul Street Baltimore, MD 21211