Historic National Health Care Reforms Adopted

On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). This historic piece of legislation has three basic goals: reduce the number of uninsured Americans by 32 million; strengthen regulation of the insurance industry; and begin the difficult task of controlling health care costs, particularly for Medicare. 

With the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) almost all Americans will now enjoy the same fundamental rights to health care that citizens of every other developed nation enjoy.

As part of an extensive public education campaign, WVAHC has developed A Guide to National Health Care Reform and What It Means for West Virginia. This 32-page booklet providing consumers with details of the PPACA and its impact on West Virginia’s families and businesses. The foreword is written by Senator Jay Rockefeller. WVAHC has also written a two-page summary of the PPACA; a PPCA PowerPoint; a one page summary of what reforms are implemented this year;  a one page summary of the changes in Medicare; and a Medicare changes PowerPoint.

In addition to these written materials, WVAHC held a series of town meeting across West Virginia. These town meetings have allowed us to explain the provisions of the PPACA and answer questions that people have about the reforms. It is that dialogue that is so important to helping people understand this complex public policy initiative. There have already been several town meetings -- in Parkersburg, Wheeling, Elkins, Morgantowm, Shepherstown, and Beckley.

Small businesses are some of the biggest winners in the national reform law. Most small businesses will qualify for tax credits beginning this year, and 6,100 very small businesses in the state--employing ten or fewer employees--will qualify for the maximum tax credits, which will cover 35 percent of the employers’ contribution to health insurance premiums. You can read the Families USA report and view the press release issued by WVAHC in co-releasing this report.

 If you have questions about the public education campaign or the provisions to PPACA, contact us using the information at the bottom of this page.

2010 Health Care Reform Summit Set

The 6th Annual Growing Healthy Children Conference: The Health Care Reform Summit, is scheduled for August 30-31, 2010 at the Marriott Town Center, Charleston, WV.  Sessions will focus on the recent health care reform legislation and what it means in West Virginia.  
Get more information.

Early Deaths: West Virginians Have Some of the Shortest Life Expectancies in the United States

West Virginians have lower life expectancies than the rest of the United States, and southern West Virginians have some of the lowest life expectancies in the country, particularly women. These are some of the findings of a report issued in September, 2008 by West Virginians for Affordable Health Care (WVAHC).
   Read the Report          Study the Raw Data