Faith Leaders Leading the Way on ACA Outreach

CBHC's Faith Caucus is taking a lead role in our efforts to promote enrollment in Illinois' new Health Insurance Marketplace, and a crucial partner in spreading the positive word on health care reform. We are so pleased that the role of our faith leaders in outreach around the Affordable Care Act was important enough to have an AP story! 

Faith leaders emerge as key to health law outreach

CHICAGO — Religion and the nation's new health law haven't exactly been viewed as friendly partners in the public eye, with most of the attention focused on religious employers' objections to covering the cost of birth control.

But under the radar, leaders in some Illinois faith communities are spreading the word about the Affordable Care Act to make sure their uninsured members know about new benefits available starting in 2014 and about the approaching enrollment start date.

Read more here: http://www.bnd.com/2013/08/09/2736052/faith-leaders-emerge-as-key-to.html#storylink=cpy

Illinois Senate Moves Towards Passing State Based Health Insurance Marketplace

In passing HB3227 (formerly SB34) today, the Illinois Senate took a major step in establishing a state based health insurance marketplace that helps small businesses and individuals in Illinois.

State Senator David Koehler (D-46 Peoria), chief sponsor of SB34 (now contained in HB3227) commented after the vote, "I am pleased that a super majority of my colleagues in the Senate voted for Illinois to establish its own state health insurance marketplace. Expanding help and providing a voice for small businesses and individuals who will be utilizing the new Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace is the intention of the Affordable Care Act, and I am proud that the Illinois Senate has made that commitment."

Brigid Leahy, Director of Legislation at Planned Parenthood of Illinois, said, "If we're running things at the state level, we can fix things, we can make them better, we have better control over making sure that it works for consumers. If it’s in the hands of the feds, we don’t have that power."

HB3227 establishes a pro-consumer and pro-small business health insurance marketplace in Illinois. The health insurance marketplace will be the one-stop insurance shop for more than a million Illinoisans.

Speaking on behalf of the Illinois Public Health Association, Tom Hughes said, "The diversity of this board will best represent the population of Illinois and protect consumers in the new marketplace."

HB3227 ensures that the marketplace is governed by a diverse board that represents women, small businesses, communities of color, labor, public health, people with disabilities, and consumers, and provides for accountability of the insurance industry selling plans on the new marketplace.

Jim Duffett, Executive Director of the Campaign for Better Health Care, said, "This historic vote by the Illinois Senate today shows the Senate's commitment to Illinois small businesses and individuals who will be eligible for the new Illinois health insurance marketplace. When fully implemented nearly 1.2 Illinoisans will be utilizing this marketplace. HB3227 will provide small businesses and consumers a direct voice in developing and implementation a State Based Marketplace that meets the needs of Illinoisans. Now it is up to the Illinois House to show their commitment and support to small businesses and individuals, and to President Obama's Affordable Care Act."

ADDENDUM
HB3227 Fact Sheet

Media Contacts:

Jim Duffett, CBHC Executive Director
217.352.5600 office / 217.840.5850 cell

Kathleen Duffy, CBHC Communications Director
312.913.9449 office / 773.934.4754 cell

Illinois Senate Takes First Major Step To Passing A State Based Health Insurance Marketplace

Springfield - The State Senate Insurance Committee passed HB3227, formerly SB34, today, a major step in establishing a health insurance marketplace that helps small businesses and individuals in Illinois.

State Senator David Koehler (D-46 Peoria), chief sponsor of SB34 which was folded into HB3227, said, "To live up to the intention of the Affordable Care Act, we need to expand our help and support for the small businesses and consumers who will be using the new Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace. My bill does this, and I am pleased that my colleagues on the Insurance Committee were able to pass it."

Mark Burris of Springfield, the owner of MCCE Investments and owner of seven Subway Sandwich franchises, said, "Small businesses need a level playing field and there must be checks and balances with the insurance companies."

Burris continued, "In this bill, financing of the health insurance exchange under is through assessments of the insurers, as it should be. The insurance industry will benefit from the tax dollars used to create the infrastructure of the how the exchange is set up. It is only appropriate that they finance the day to day operations of the insurance health marketplace when an estimated one million new insurance customers will be purchasing private health insurance."

HB3227, formerly SB34, establishes a pro-consumer and pro-small business health insurance marketplace in Illinois. The health insurance marketplace will be the one-stop insurance shop for more than a million Illinoisans.

Jim Duffett, Executive Director of the Campaign for Better Health Care, said "This new marketplace will offer small businesses access to more affordable health insurance plans. Instead of paying 18% more than larger businesses, they will have a chance to compete for and retain good employees by providing affordable insurance. A win-win for small businesses and their employees because of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly referred to as Obamacare."

HB3227, formerly SB34, ensures that the marketplace is governed by a diverse board that represents women, small businesses, communities of color, labor, public health, people with disabilities, and consumers, and provides for accountability of the insurance industry selling plans on the new marketplace.
 

Speaking on behalf of the National Association of Women Business Owners Chicago (NAWBO Chicago), Linda Forman said, "Who sits on the insurance exchange governing board is very important. We believe that a statewide governing board will be better able to understand the needs of women and the diversity of backgrounds and geography of small businesses throughout this state if the governing board is composed of the types of people who will be using the health insurance exchange marketplace."

"We can all agree that what we had has not worked very well, and to continue to do nothing is a bad mistake. We are excited to support HB3227, formerly SB34, and proud to be part of the Small Business Health Care Consortium. Our members are proud to see us take a step in the right direction on behalf of small business all across the state," said Larry Ivory, President of the Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce. "We congratulate the members of the Insurance Committee for taking that step for Illinois small businesses and individuals today."

ADDENDUM

HB3227 (containing SB34 language) Fact Sheet

Kathleen Duffy
Campaign for Better Health Care

Sign On in Support of SB 34 - A State Run Exchange in Illinois

Illinois Senate Bill 34 establishes a robust, pro-consumer and pro-small business Health Insurance Marketplace in Illinois. The Health Insurance Marketplace will be the one-stop insurance shop for more than a million Illinoisans. SB34 ensures that the Marketplace is governed by a diverse board that represents women, small businesses, communities of color, labor, public health, people with disabilities, and consumers.  It is scheduled to be heard in subcommittee of the Senate Executive Committee today.

Please help signal broad support for this important health care bill by taking these 2 actions:

1. Sign on to the list of organizations supporting SB34

Click here to add your organization to the list of supporters for the passage of SB34.

2. Call the toll-free Marketplace Action line, 1-888-801-4426, and ask your state senator to cosponsor SB34!

If your state senator is already a cosponsor, please call him or her to thank them for their support. Here are the current co-sponsors:


David Koehler, Heather A. Steans, Don Harmon, Toi W. Hutchinson, William Delgado, Jacqueline Y. Collins, Michael Noland, Emil Jones, III, Julie A. Morrison, Steven M. Landek, Dan Kotowski, Patricia Van Pelt, Iris Y. Martinez, Mattie Hunter, Kimberly A. Lightford, Daniel Biss, Ira I. Silverstein, Thomas Cullerton, Terry Link, Melinda Bush, Donne E. Trotter, Bill Cunningham, Kwame Raoul, Napoleon Harris III

Please especially ask Senators Trotter and Clayborne and members of the Senate Executive Committee to pass SB34 out of committee.

SB34 must first pass out of the Governmental Operations Subcommittee and then the Executive Committee before going to a full vote.

Advocacy Materials:

You can find these materials and many others on our Health Insurance Marketplace page:

•     SB34 Fact Sheet
•     Health Insurance Marketplace Q&A
•     State Senator Co-sponsorship Form
•     Template for Co-sponorship request letter to senator
•     Template for Co-sponorship thank you letter
•     Multiple briefing resources

Jim Duffett
Campaign for Better Health Care

Health Care Reform Leadership Training for Faith Community and Communities of Color

Strong leaders are needed to speak out now about the development of an Illinois health insurance marketplace and expanding Medicaid, not cutting it.  

The Campaign for Better Health Care's Faith Caucus is inviting you to become a partner because, as a leader in the faith community or community of color, you can bring back the information to your congregation and community so they can join the effort for the full implementation of the new health care law (Affordable Care Act).  Your commitment will be to attend the next five trainings (one per month, each 3 hrs) and to follow through by mobilizing your communities. 

These trainings will help prepare you for a more active role in the pursuit of affordable, accessible and quality health care for everyone.  The leadership training series topics will include Organizing 101, Affordable Care Act, Marketplace, fundraising, legislative advocacy, messaging, social media, community engagement, leadership development, communications and resource development.

The initial five trainings will be held in Chicago, but we are seeking funding to provide trainings statewide.

Help make a difference in shaping our healthcare and the healthcare of those who need you to take action.

You can register by clicking this link.

 

Day	Date	Time	Location	Room
Tuesday	August 28st, 2012	1-4 pm	Mercy Hospital	Great Room
Tuesday	September 19th, 2012	1-4 pm	St. Mary’s Hospital,	1CD
Tuesday	October 16th, 2012	1-4 pm	Mercy Hospital	Room 242
Tuesday	November 13th, 2012	1-4 pm	Mercy Hospital	Penthouse
Tuesday	December 11th, 2012	1-4 pm	Mercy Hospital	Penthouse

Mercy Hospital & Medical Center. 2525 South Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL 60616.

St. Mary’s Hospital, 2233 W. Division St.  Chicago, IL 60622 Parking across the Street–North of Division St.

Laura Leon
Director of Faith Initiatives
Campaign for Better Health Care

Small Business Health Care Consortium Touts Importance of ACA to Illinois Firms

The newly formed Small Business Health Care Consortium (SBHCC) announced today the results of recent Illinois polls regarding the small business provision of the Affordable Care Act and their call for Governor Quinn to establish an Illinois Insurance Exchange with key principle provisions by issuing an executive order.

The polls, conducted in conjunction with the Small Business Majority, found that:

• 63% of Illinois small business owners want to see the Affordable Care Act upheld, with minor or no changes. After learning more about the specifics of the law, support for keeping it as is or with minor changes rose to 68%.
• A 73% majority of small business owners say they would use or consider using the state exchange, and seven out of 10 Illinois small business owners support the state in applying for federal aid under the Affordable Care Act to set one up. 
• A majority of business owners say they’d be likely to purchase health care for their employees through a state exchange because it is the only place they can receive a tax credit beginning in 2014. 64% of those polled said qualifying for the tax credit would make them more likely to provide or continue offering coverage to employees.

(Links: IL ACA Poll Mini Report and ACA Wrapup poll)

Small businesses are the backbone of Illinois’s economy. In 2010, 203,600 businesses in Illinois had 25 or fewer workers, according to the Small Business Majority. The SBHCC, formed earlier this year, represents the voice of small business leaders throughout Illinois on health care reform.

Present SBHCC Steering Committee members include the Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Women Business Owners – Chicago Chapter, McCormick Chamber of Commerce, Women’s Business Development Center, and small businesses including Old Mexico Restaurant (Rock Island), Gregg Florist (Peoria), Wirehead Technology (Chicago), Second Act Cancer Recovery Boutique (Chicago), MCCE Investments (Springfield), Linda Forman CPA PC (Evanston), and H.A King & Associates (Chicago.)

“Forming the Small Business Health Care Consortium to represent the diversity of small businesses throughout the state is overdue. I am working with the Small Business Health Care Consortium to ensure that all small businesses can afford health insurance,” said Howard Lee of Wire Technology in Chicago, a SBHCC steering committee member.

Another provision of the ACA is the development of a competitive healthcare marketplace, or insurance exchange, in each state. Small businesses want to support our employees and their families by being able to provide them with the quality, affordable healthcare they deserve, but the high costs make it difficult or impossible for many of us to do that. We need a strong marketplace to give us more control, quality choices, and better consumer protections when buying insurance - just like the big guys get.

Pattie Sheehan, Certified Mastectomy Fitter and sole proprietor of Second Act Mastectomy Boutique in Chicago, serves cancer patients and survivors. “Every day I see and hear from women who did not catch their cancer early because they did not have access to healthcare. Women who battle cancer also work at small businesses and that means that they are less likely to have health insurance coverage, just because their employer is small. It is time for the inequality of insurance access to be erased and for the needs of small businesses to be met so that our employees can afford good insurance. That is why I have joined the Steering Committee of the Small Business Health Care Consortium.”

Since 2010 under the ACA, companies with fewer than 25 employees and average employee wages of less than $50,000 can get tax credits for the health insurance they provide their employees. These tax breaks have already lightened the load on small businesses so we can get back to what we do best...creating jobs that will stay here in our communities.

“I am the owner of MCCE Investments and I also own several Subway stores in the Springfield area. The main reason I am spending time on this project, the Small Business Health Care Consortium, is to be sure small business has a voice in the process from the beginning. We have to be sure health care for all Americans is not done on the backs of small business but must be shared by all,” said Mark Burris.

“Contrary to political spin and popular belief, small business owners in Illinois do not want the U.S. Supreme Court to throw out the Affordable Care Act. Illinois small businesses see this law as helping everyone have coverage and bringing down healthcare costs—something that has been one of their top concerns for years. We hope Supreme Court justices understand how important this law is to small businesses who need relief from high healthcare costs,” said Jim Duffett, Executive Director of the Campaign for Better Health Care.

Duffett continued, “Since the General Assembly has abdicated its responsibilities, Governor Quinn needs to step up to the plate and enact an Executive Order to begin the process for an Illinois Marketplace (exchange). Small businesses are committed in taking personal responsibility; it is time for our political leaders to do the same.”

Right now, Illinois could access over $200 million in federal funds to implement the new marketplace. It won't cost the state a penny if we use these federal funds. This past legislative session, the General Assembly took no action on implementing a marketplace in Illinois. This means the federal government will implement one for us, unless Governor Quinn takes immediate action.

David Whitaker, Chair of the Health Committee for the Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce, said “Small businesses are diverse throughout Illinois and yet we all have the same problem when it comes to buying health insurance—it is very difficult and we spend more for it than larger businesses. The Illinois General Assembly failed this past session to enact legislation to establish an Illinois marketplace, or insurance exchange. It is time for action and leadership.”

“The SBHCC is calling on Governor Quinn to sign an executive order to set the standard for this
marketplace and it must include the following principles:

1) No insurance industry representataives on the Governing Board.
2) The right to negotiate rates with insurers - there must be real cost containment measures.
3) The Insurance industry must pay for the Marketplace, not small businesses and consumers.”

Joyce Harant, SBHCC Project Director said, "Small business owners are so busy keeping their businesses operating that they have very little time to navigate what is happening about health care reform. Most of them wish they could afford health insurance for their employees and yet when the rubber meets the road, for many of them the obstacles are too great. My hope is that we can learn the needs of small business owners and, in a collective way, make sure their needs and opinions are heard and become part of the legislation passed in Illinois."

Full statements by small business owners on today's telebriefing are available via Kathleen Duffy. The audio of today's telebriefing is available on the Campaign for Better Health Care's Audio Archive.

New Report Shows Medicaid Cuts Will Hurt Illinois Economy

A new report from Families USA and the Campaign for Better Health Care shows that Governor Quinn’s proposed $2.7 billion one-year reduction in Medicaid spending would hurt “Illinois’ economy, its health care providers, and the Illinoisans who depend on Medicaid for health care.”

The report, released on April 25, emphasizes Medicaid cuts mean both lost jobs and lost business activity. For example, a 5 percent reduction in state Medicaid spending would jeopardize more than 7,000 jobs and cost the state about $923 million annually in business activity. A 10 percent reduction doubles those figures. Quinn’s proposed 18 percent cuts mean the potential loss of more than 25,000 jobs and more than $3.3 billion in lost business activity. Short-sighted cuts can have long-term negative effects on Illinois’ economy. 

“Just because Medicaid gets cut doesn’t mean that people will get any less sick or need any less medical care. With no source for preventive or primary care, patients will eventually end up in the emergency room with a more severe illness or complications,” notes Jim Duffett, Executive Director of the Campaign for Better Health Care. “Chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiac issues must be managed or the consequences can be fatal.” 

“Medicaid is not just a safety net. It helps strengthen families in tough times, and it provides security for the most vulnerable, such as our kids, who are the future. For those of us who have private insurance and think we are immune from drastic cuts and changes in the Medicaid Program, think again. Slashing eligibility and services will financially cost you and your family more than the political rhetoric of some who say gutting the program will save you money." Duffett explains, "The expanded cost to pay for uncompensated care is then passed on to consumers, employers, and businesses in the form of higher insurance premiums. It is estimated that, in 2008, family coverage cost $1,017 more because of higher premium charges (cost shifting) that resulted from passing along the costs of uncompensated care.” 

Illinois Hospital Association President & CEO Maryjane Wurth says that blunt cuts are devastating to patients and the entire health care system. “Drastic Medicaid cuts hurt everyone—not just the Medicaid patients. Hospitals will be forced to reduce jobs. Local businesses will be impacted. And hospitals will be forced to cut or eliminate medical services that everyone uses—there is not a separate set of staff, equipment and facilities just for Medicaid patients.” 

The cuts would be costly for the state as well, since Illinois receives slightly more than one dollar in federal matching funds for every dollar it spends on Medicaid. The federal match brings new money into the state that the state would not otherwise have. 

“We have workable solutions such as expanded coordinated care that will not compromise patient care,” says Wurth. “We have presented these multi-year proposals to members of the General Assembly and look forward to working with them to create a more effective Medicaid system. It’s important that Medicaid patients get the most efficient, high-quality care possible.” “The Governor’s proposed cut to Illinois’ Medicaid program is both cruelly insensitive and economically unsound,” said Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA. “His proposal will deny the state more than a billion dollars in federal support, cost the state billions in economic activity, put tens of thousands of jobs at risk, and hurt the state’s most vulnerable families and senior citizens. For many reasons, this is the wrong direction for Illinois in these difficult economic times.” The report is available at www.cbhconline.org. 

 # # # 

About Families USA 

Families USA is the national organization for health care consumers. It is nonprofit and nonpartisan and advocates for high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans. For more information, · www.familiesusa.org 

About the Illinois Campaign for Better Health Care 

We believe that accessible, affordable, quality health care is a basic human right for all people. The Campaign for Better Health Care is the state’s largest coalition representing over 300 diverse organizations, organizing to help create and advocate for an accessible, quality health care system for all. For more information, visit www.cbhconline.org. 

About the Illinois Hospital Association 

The Illinois Hospital Association, with offices in Naperville, Springfield and Washington, D.C., is an advocate for 200 hospitals and health systems and the patients and communities they serve. For more information, visit www.ihatoday.org.

The Supreme Court Challenge to the ACA

From March 26 to 28, 2012, the United States Supreme Court will hear arguments in Florida, et al., v. Department of Health and Human Services, et al., the historic challenge to the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act brought by the attorneys general of 26 states and the National Federation of Independent Businesses. No case has been allotted this much time for argument since the 19th century.

Since the Affordable Care Act was enacted in March 2010, dozens of legal cases have been filed against the law. Most cases have been dismissed on procedural grounds. Of the small number of cases that have gotten past procedural hurdles, four cases have reached the Courts of Appeals.

Of those cases, three courts have rejected challenges to the law (the Sixth Circuit and the DC Circuit upheld the law entirely, and the Fourth Circuit found the challenge to be premature under the Anti-Injunction Act). However, in the Eleventh Circuit, in a case brought by the attorneys general of 26 states and the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the court found the personal responsibility provision to be unconstitutional. However, that court left the rest of the law in place and specifically found the Medicaid expansion constitutional.

The federal government has appealed the decision striking down the personal responsibility provision. The states and National Federation of Independent Businesses have appealed the parts of the decision that upheld the Medicaid expansion and that left the rest of the law in place. No party is arguing that the case against the personal responsibility provision is premature under the Anti-Injunction Act—the Supreme Court has decided on its own to consider that question.

The Campaign for Better Health Care hopes that the justices fully consider the legal precedents that have already been set in similar cases and find that the law is constitutional. We want to see this law given the full stamp of approval of the highest court in the land so that instead of wasting time playing politics around the Affordable Care Act, lawmakers move ahead to implement it.

The central questions here are: What kind of a country do we want to live in? What values do we have as Americans? This isn't a policy debate, it is a philosophical one. The arguments at the core of it are "you're on your own" versus "taking personal responsibility for the common good of your family and America." Our nation was built on the ideals of personal responsibility and working for the common good of our country. Those are the ideals that Obamacare promotes.

The Affordable Care Act protects and offers all Americans the opportunity to obtain quality, affordable health care. People like the consumer protections in the law. They do not want to give up the vital protections that the Affordable Care Act provides them and go back to being at the mercy of insurance companies. Striking down the Affordable Care Act would take away protections that Americans already have or are about to gain, including:

* rules already prohibiting insurers from denying coverage to people, including children, with pre-existing conditions

* tax credits that are already helping small businesses provide coverage to their employees

* rules prohibiting insurers from canceling coverage when people get sick

* rules prohibiting insurers from dropping young adults from their parents’ coverage

* rules prohibiting insurers from imposing annual or lifetime caps on coverage

* improved prescription drug coverage and preventive benefits for seniors and people with disabilities who rely on Medicare

The Affordable Care Act is constitutional, having already been upheld by multiple courts, including by leading conservative judges. If the Supreme Court follows existing precedent, it will uphold the law. Three separate Circuit Courts of Appeal have rejected challenges to the law, with two of these decisions including opinions written by leading conservative judges.

The law is constitutional because Congress has broad authority to regulate interstate commerce. This authority comes from the Constitution’s commerce clause and necessary and proper clause and has been undisputed in Supreme Court rulings dating back at least 75 years. Legal precedent has been well established in this case, so let's move on already.

The Affordable Care Act is fair. The personal responsibility provision is a common-sense rule that will ultimately affect about 1 percent of Americans, and the 83 percent of Americans who already have health insurance (for example, through their jobs or through Medicare) will not be affected by it. Most people without health insurance want coverage but cannot get it, either because they cannot afford it or they are denied it due to their pre-existing conditions. The Affordable Care Act makes coverage affordable and eliminates exclusions for pre-existing conditions. When these people get coverage, they will not be subject to the penalty either.

It is estimated that, at most, 1 percent of the population will refuse to buy coverage and will not qualify for an exemption (for example, for religious reasons or economic hardship). These people should pay their fair share and get coverage before they get sick; waiting until they get sick to get coverage only shifts the cost of their care onto everyone else.

All big changes to our national priorities and policies generate opposition. The Social Security Act in the 1930s and Medicare and the Civil Rights Act in the 1960s were bitterly attacked at the time they were passed. The Social Security Act and Civil Rights Act were even declared unconstitutional by lower courts before the Supreme Court upheld them. Now these laws are part of the fabric of American society. The same will happen with the Affordable Care Act.

Jim Duffett
CBHC Executive Director

# # #

About the Campaign for Better Health Care

We believe that accessible, affordable, quality health care is a basic human right for ALL people. The Campaign for Better Health Care is the state’s largest coalition representing over 300 diverse organizations, organizing to help create and advocate for an accessible, quality health care system for all. For more information, visit www.cbhconline.org.