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Mitt Romney Coins "Obamacare"
Mitt Romney is credited with creating the term "Obamacare" and using it during capaigns for the presidential election during September of 2007 -
Signing the Act
The Affordable Care Act is signed by President Obama and becomes law. -
Small Business Tax Credits Guaranteed
A provision is created that guarantees a tax credit of up to 35% of the employees’ contribution to the employees’ health insurance for eligible small businesses. Also provided is a tax credit of up to 25% for eligible small non-profit organizations. -
Prevention and Public Health Fund
Funding begins for the $15 billion Prevention and Public Health Fund, which will invest in prevention and public health programs for Americans. -
Fraud Prevention
More provisions are made for new screening procedures for health care providers to reduce fraud and waste in Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. -
Incentives for Primary Care Workforce
New incentives are created to increase the number of primary care doctors, nurses, and physician assistants. These include funding for scholarships and loan repayments and tax exeptions. -
Insurance Company Rate Accountability
States choosing to implement measures requiring insurance companies to justify premium increase are eligible for $250 million in new grants. Also, insurance companies who are found to have excessive or unjustified premium exchanges may lose eligibility to participate in the new health insurance Exchange in 2014. -
Increased Rural Payment
Health care providers in rural areas will be provided increased payment. -
Community Health Center Funding
New funding will be provided to support construction of and expanded services at community health centers. -
Federal Fund Matching for Medicaid
States are eligible to receive federal matching funds to aid additional low-income individuals and families under Medicaid. -
John Stewart Against "Obamacare"
John Stewart points out during his “Daily Show” on Comedy Central” that the use of the term “Obamacare” is derogatory -
Medicare Rebate Checks Issued
Eligible seniors affected by the “Donut Hole” in Medicare’s prescription drug coverage are mailed a one-time, tax-free $250 rebate check throughout the year 2010. -
Early Retiree Reinsurance Program
$5 billion program is established to provide financial help for employment-based plans to allow for continued coverage to people who retire between the ages of 55 and 65 (as well as any spouses or dependents). This program is meant to stem the gap until the new Exchange has been established in 2014. -
Online Coverage Comparisons Available
Information is made available online for consumers to compare health insurance plans and chose their prefered coverage option. -
Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan
The Department of Human Services will provide coverage options for individuals who have been uninsured for at least 6 months due to pre-existing conditions. These plans can also be provided by State programs. -
Prohibition of Coverage Denials Based on Pre-Existing Conditions (for Children)
It becomes illegal for insurance companies to deny coverage based on preexisting conditions for to children under the age of 19. -
Prohibition of Coverage Rescinding
It becomes illegal for insurance companies to rescind coverage based on application errors or other technical mistakes. -
Elimination of Lifetime Limits
It becomes illegal for insurance companies to impose lifetime dollar limits of essential benefits (such as hospital stays). -
Regulation of Annual Limits
Restrictions will be placed on insurance companies’ use of annual dollar limits for patient coverage. -
Creation of Appeals Process
Consumers are granted the legal right to appeal coverage determinations through an external review process. -
Free Preventive Care Services
Insurance companies are required by law to cover certain preventative services (such as mammograms and colonoscopies). These services must be covered by all new plans without the insurance companies charging deductibles, co-pays, or coinsurance. -
Extended Young Adult Coverage
Young adult are legally allowed to remain on their parents’ plans until they turn 26 (unless they are offered insurance at their own work). -
Grants for Independent State Offices
States may apply for federal grants to fund independent offices to help consumers navigate private health insurance. These state run programs report to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. -
Prescription Drug Discounts
Seniors in the coverage gap are provided a 50% discount on their purchase of Medicare Part D covered brand-name prescription drugs. Continued savings on brand-name and generic drugs will be provided to seniors until the year 2020, when the coverage gap has been closed. -
Free Senior Preventive Services
Certain preventive services will be available for free to seniors on Medicare. -
Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation
Center is established to test new and improved ways of delivering patient care and quality while reducing costs for Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. -
Community Care Transitions Program
Program implemented to avoid unnecessary readmission of hospitalized high risk Medicare beneficiaries. -
Reduction of Premiums
Insurance companies are required to spend at least 80% of premium costs on benefits and quality improvement rather than on their administrative costs or profits. If they do not, these companies will be required to provide rebate to their consumers. -
Benefits for Medicare Advantage
Discrepancies between Medicare Advantage and Traditional Medicare plans will be gradually eliminated. In addition to this, Medicare Advantage plans that provide high quality care will be provided bonus payments. -
DNC Chair Against "Obamacare"
During February of 2001, the DNC chairwoman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz attempts to stop the term, “Obamacare” from being used on the House floor – claimed the term was “disparaging” against the president -
The Independent Payment Advisory Board
Board will develop and submit proposals to Congress and the President, focusing on extending the life of the Medicare Trust Fund. -
The Community First Choice Option
Option will allow states to offer home and community based services through Medicaid rather than institutional care for disabled individuals. -
Obama uses "Obamacare" Term
• Obama references his appreciation for the term "Obamacare" during an ABC News interview, stating he likes that the term implies "Obama Cares." -
Accountable Care Organizations
Incentives will be provided to physicians who form “Accountable Care Organizations.” These organizations will work to provide higher quality patient care at reduced costs. -
Data Collection to Reduce Disparities
Any new or ongoing federal health program will be required to collect and report racial, ethnic, and language data to the Secretary of Health and Human Services in order to help identify and reduce disparities. -
Obama Embraces "Obamacare"
USA Today's reporter, David Jackson, publishes an article stating how President Obama is beginning to "embrace" the term Obamacare - siting Obama's use of the term in two of his Colorado appearances earlier that week. -
Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program
This program will provide financial incentives to hospitals to improve their quality of care. Hospital performance will be publicly reported. -
Standardized Billing and Electronic Records
Under the Affordable Care Act, changes will be made to create universal billing standards and universal rules for secure, confidential, electronic exchange of health information. -
Funding for Preventive Services
Funding will be provided to state Medicaid programs that cover preventive services for patiants at little or no cost. -
Payment Bundling
Pilot program is established to encourage hospitals, doctors, and other providers to work together to improve coordination and quality of patient care by bundling payments for care episodes rather than charging by each service or test, etc. within an episode of care. -
Medicaid Payment to Primary Care Doctors
Medicaid programs and providers must pay primary care physicians no less than 100% of Medicare payment rates in 2013 and 2014 for primary care services. This increase is fully covered by the federal government. -
Open Enrollment in Marketplace Begins
Individuals and small businesses will be able to purchase affordable and qualified health benefit plans through the new "transparent and competitive insurance marketplace." established by the government.
