Implementation of Health Care Reform: Coverage, Financing and Implications for Maternal and Child Health

Much of the failure or success of federal health reform will depend on the ability of states to implement its key provisions. As states assess the challenges and opportunities presented by federal health reform legislation, there is a natural tendency to focus on the most immediate issues, but it is equally important that states begin planning for the many aspects of implementation that occur in later years. The purpose of this presentation is to highlight and discuss key issues related to the implementation of ACA for states, particularly state Medicaid and CHIP programs, in areas including coverage expansions, quality improvement, and systems integration, and related recommendations for optimizing ACA.