New Perspective on the Affordable Care Act: Its Role in Universal Health Care

With the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010, national health reform has become a reality. Implementation of key aspects of the law has begun with further elements coming on line in 2014. This special policy-focused session will present new perspectives on health reform. While the ACA will help achieve many public health goals, it will not bring about a single payer system. This presentation will discuss the promise of the ACA from the standpoint of universal health care and health care as a human right. Dr. Himmelstein practiced primary care internal medicine at the public hospital in Cambridge Massachusetts for 28 years. He is the co-founder of Physicians for a National Health Program, an organization with 18,000 members that advocates for non-profit, single payer national health insurance.