Role of Unions in Passage and Implementation of Health Reform

Unions members are part of the health care system as both consumers and health care providers. Representing both aspects of the health care system, unions have often worked to improve access to care and quality of care. One example of this is the recent passage and current implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The passage of health reform was a major priority of many unions. Health reform is a way to provide affordable access to care for working families while increasing health care quality. Many aspects of the PPACA will change the way health care is provided, with significant impacts on the health care workforce. As implementation moves forward, labor is involved in many aspects including: making sure the insurance reforms provide better access to care for health care consumers, improving quality through workforce training, and providing a worker voice in the implementation of health information technology.