New publication and Webcast: The ACA and Children with Special Health Care Needs
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides states with important tools to help children with special health care needs (CSHCN) and their families access coverage that is universal and continuous, adequate and affordable. However, interpretation of the law and addressing implementation challenges with the unique needs of CSHCN in mind will shape how well the ACA fulfills its promise to this vulnerable population. A new paper developed by the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) for the Catalyst Center reviews and analyzes key provisions of the ACA relevant for CSHCN to help inform state policymakers’ decisions in implementing health care reform.
Publication: The Affordable Care Act and Children with Special Health Care Needs (PDF, 48 pages)
Don’t Miss the Companion Piece:
This brief offers a concise description of select provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) with a side-by-side analysis of their implications for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN).
Recorded Webcast Available
As a companion activity to the release of the paper, NASHP and the Catalyst Center hosted a joint webcast at the end of January. Policy experts from the NASHP and Catalyst Center teams presented highlights from the analysis. A panel of state and federal officials shared their perspectives on the report. Presenters included:
- Carol Tobias, Director, the Health and Disability Working Group; Principal Investigator, the Catalyst Center at the Boston University School of Public Health
- Meg Comeau, Project Director, the Catalyst Center at Boston University School of Public Health
- Kathleen Farrell, Senior Advisor, National Academy for State Health Policy
- Catherine Hess, Managing Director for Coverage and Access, National Academy for State Health Policy
- Liz Fowler, Deputy Director, Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight Linda Peltz, Division of Benefits and Coverage, Center for Medicaid, CHIP and Survey and Certification, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
- Phyllis Sloyer, Division Director, Children’s Medical Services Network and Related Programs, Florida Department of Health; Member, NASHP Academy; President, Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs
- Steve Fitton, Director, Medical Services Administration, Michigan Department of Community Health
