Early RPTS Suggest Most Obamacare Enrollees Already Had Health Care Coverage - The Kelly File
Early RPTS Suggest Most Obamacare Enrollees Already Had Health Care Coverage - The Kelly File =========================================== **Please Click B...

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Early RPTS Suggest Most Obamacare Enrollees Already Had Health Care Coverage - The Kelly File - Video

Clinic on the Move | Mister Sister Mobile Health Services (Full Length Version)
Geographic distance to a health care provider remains one of the largest barriers to accessing health care in Namibia. The Mister Sister Mobile Health Servic...

By: Laura Hanson

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Clinic on the Move | Mister Sister Mobile Health Services (Full Length Version) - Video

Moratorium proposed on Jefferson Parish health care
The Jefferson Parish council tells WDSU it #39;s looking into putting a moratorium on all urgent cares and surgical centers while at the same time doing a zoning...

By: WDSU News

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Moratorium proposed on Jefferson Parish health care - Video

Talks begin of moratorium on Jefferson Parish health care
Jefferson parish council discussing moratorium for all Urgent Cares and Surgical Centers in the parish.

By: WDSU News

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Talks begin of moratorium on Jefferson Parish health care - Video

This is why health care reform matters: Amy #39;s story
Health care reform matters for Amy -- a healthy 27-year-old who was born with a heart condition. Despite exercising and keeping active, Amy was denied health...

By: organizingforaction

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This is why health care reform matters: Amy's story - Video

Time to Care: A Discussion on Improving Paid Leave Policies for Workers, Businesses, and Our Economy
Engage in the conversation before and during the event using the hashtag #talkgoodjobs. Many working Americans today must regularly choose between earning a ...

By: The Aspen Institute

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Time to Care: A Discussion on Improving Paid Leave Policies for Workers, Businesses, and Our Economy - Video

For almost six years, health care has been one of the most highly debated topics among politicians, the news media and the general public. Even after the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or ACA, was signed by President Barack Obama in 2010, the debate raged on as some people trumpeted its positives, some highlighted its negatives, and many felt uncertain of its real impact. Employers, especially those with small businesses, generally fell into the uncertain category as they waited to see the ACA's effects.

Now that we've entered 2014 and seen many of the act's elements implemented, there's still a general feeling of confusion among small businesses that make up more than 99 percent of U.S. employers. However, one thing is clear: health care reform is impacting how small businesses think about and approach hiring. A study from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Harris Interactive found that 71 percent of the small business executives surveyed said the ACA would make them less likely to hire employees.

Staff size matters

The primary reason for this is that many parts of the health care law are tied to the number of employees a company has. The most common breakdowns, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration, are 1-24 employees, 25-49 employees, and 50-plus employees. Of all the aspects of health care reform that are linked to staff size, small business owners need to be especially aware of two specific areas.

Employee health coverage

Employers who have 49 or fewer full-time employees are not required to offer health insurance. However, those who do want to offer their staff health coverage can do so through the Small Business Health Options Program, or SHOP. Currently, the SHOP Marketplace is only available for businesses with 1-49 employees, but in 2016 it will be opened to companies with up to 100 employees.

Due to some program difficulties, the federally run SHOP exchange, which was slated to have already opened, has been delayed a year. According to the Huffington Post, small businesses that planned to acquire their insurance through the marketplace can instead sign up through an insurance broker or health insurance company. And while small business employees were originally going to be able to choose from any plan available on the exchange, for 2014, the employer will have to select the coverage for everyone.

Beginning in 2014, there are two additional changes to employer-provided health coverage that were highlighted on Healthcare.gov's small business page. Insurance companies can no longer deny your business coverage due to the health status or pre-existing conditions of any of your employees or their dependents. They also cannot raise premiums for employees with higher-than-average medical costs or those who are women. These two new rules do not apply, however, to grandfathered plans.

Health care tax credit

Employers who fall below the 25-employee mark, with employees making an average of $50,000 a year or less, and provide health insurance to their staff, may be eligible for a small business health care tax credit. Beginning this year, small businesses could be reimbursed for as much as 50 percent of their contributions toward employee premiums. The health coverage must be through the SHOP Marketplace, but there are salary restrictions. Because of the delay of the SHOP exchange, businesses that want to apply for the credit can submit their application when they file their taxes for 2014.

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Health care's impact on hiring decisions in 2014 and beyond

MASON CITY | North Iowans are signing up for health insurance coverage as required under the provisions of the Affordable Care Act, and help is available for those still needing to do so.

"The number of patients wanting to sign up has increased tremendously since Jan. 1," said Katie Roderick, financial counselor at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa.

She assists patients with starting the initial enrollment process for health insurance coverage within the Health Insurance Marketplace, answers questions and provides follow-up assistance as needed.

Patients who have enrolled for insurance include all ages and circumstances, from single parents to young single adults with no children, Roderick said.

CoOpportunity Health, a new nonprofit insurance cooperative that offers insurance coverage in Iowa and Nebraska, is the insurance company affiliated with Mercy-North Iowa. It reported enrollment of more than 35,000 members as of Jan. 1, 2014, far surpassing its first-year goal of 12,000 members.

MEMBERSHIP WAS SPLIT nearly evenly among people under 30, 30- to 49-year-olds and people between the ages of 50 and 64.

Another insurance option for some people is the new Iowa Health and Wellness Plan. Part of the Medicaid Extension Program, it is for people who meet income guidelines but are not eligible for Medicaid.

The Health and Wellness Plan replaces IowaCare, which was discontinued at the end of 2013.

Alice Ciavarelli, Community Care coordinator with Mercy's Population Health Department, said patients who qualified for IowaCare should automatically have been enrolled in the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan.

"The Iowa Health and Wellness Plan is going to be a very good program for patients that qualify," she said. "We encourage people to sign up for it."

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Health care questions? Help is avalable

Story by ElenaWatts

Originally published January 25, 2014 at 10:12 P.M., updated January 26, 2014 at 12:45 A.M.

A conversation between two Crossroads leaders seated next to each other at a meeting about Medicaid has sparked a partnership that is expected to benefit the community.

Gulf Bend Center and Citizens Medical Center have joined forces to streamline the delivery of health care services with a system that benefits patients, health care providers and taxpayers.

"The most important part of the association between Gulf Bend and Citizens is to set up the foundation for a model of integrated health care with a wholistic view of the needs of the patients," said Dr. Nestor Praderio, geriatric psychiatrist and owner of Psychiatric Consulting Service in Aransas Pass.

Praderio oversees inpatient psychiatric units in Aransas Pass and Corpus Christi and treats patients with mental health issues in the Crossroads by televideo.

At the Medicaid meeting, David Way, associate executive director of Gulf Bend Center, shared his ideas about integrative health care with Stephen Thames, hospital administrator for Citizens Medical Center, to secure a letter of support for his proposal.

Thames offered more than his endorsement. He offered hospital space and medical professionals.

The $1.2 million project, funded by a Texas Department of State Health Services grant and an in-kind match from Citizens Medical Center, began in January.

Citizens Medical Center provides space on the sixth floor of the hospital for the six-person outpatient extended observation unit as well as a nursing staff.

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Health care providers partner to provide mental health care