By 2014, Alabama must be ready to implement the major provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), including the enrollment of thousands of Alabama residents in a variety of health insurance programs. Thanks to support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Alabama will have the benefit of expertise from leading national organizations and experts in the field of health policy and coverage as it prepares to meet this challenge.
The technical assistance and other resources are part of the foundation’s program to assist states in implementing key health insurance coverage provisions of ACA. Announced by the RWJ Foundation on May 6, Alabama was one of 10 states selected through a competitive process for the program. Other states selected included Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Virginia.
“In the coming years Alabama will face critical operational and policy decisions regarding the implementation of the health care reform,” said Alabama Governor Robert Bentley. “We will need policy, data and technical expertise to better understand our options, and we are pleased to have the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s support as we develop successful approaches to expand coverage and strengthen our health care system in Alabama.”
RWJF will invest in technical assistance, research and monitoring, and consumer engagement to maximize coverage gains made possible by the ACA. Technical assistance will be provided to the states through the newly-created State Health Reform Assistance Network and will focus on setting up health insurance (benefits) exchanges, instituting insurance market reforms, expanding Medicaid to newly eligible populations, streamlining eligibility and enrollment systems, and using data to drive decisions.
Experts estimate that Alabama Medicaid will expand health insurance coverage to more than 540,000 in 2014. Many other Alabamians will use health (insurance) benefit exchanges to purchase affordable health insurance coverage.
“Expanding and improving access to health care, and providing stable, affordable coverage is now in the hands of the state,” said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, MBA, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “In the coming months, state health leaders will form strategies and consider options that best meet their unique coverage needs. It’s important that these ideas be shared, so that states can learn from each other. RWJF has a long history of effectively disseminating information, and we’re pleased to serve as an unbiased, non-partisan convener to help different states share successful ideas that can be replicated and warn of pitfalls that can be avoided.”