Panel Discussion

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is changing the health care landscape. Some of those changes are happening now. “Partnership for Patients, Better Care, Lower Costs” was launched by Health and Human Services in April 2011 and is designed to “improve the quality, safety, and affordability of health care for all Americans.” Unions will play an important role in implementing Partnership for Patients. The health care landscape is also changing with the creation of health insurance exchanges. Significant questions are looming with regard to the exchanges: How are the exchanges going to be structured; Will labor unions participate in the exchanges; Is there a risk that employers will cut workers from full-time to less than 32 hours a week to save on health care costs; and How will the tax on “Cadillac” health plans affect employer provided plans? The answers to these questions are critical to the millions of Americans affected by PPACA. PPACA also provides significant opportunities for unions and other organizations to provide their members with trustworthy preventive health information. Unions have strong communications networks that can serve as a platform to spread the prevention message. How might this be done? What messages are most effective? Who is the best messenger?

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)