Welcome to our brand new website! Of special note are our new fact sheets about implementation of the Affordable Care Act and a fact sheet about the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plans (PCIPs), one of the largest and most immediate initiatives under the Affordable Care Act. Starting this month, PCIPs are designed to offer coverage for uninsured Americans who have been denied insurance because of past illness, and they are now open for enrollment in many states.
In other healthcare reform news, the White House recently issued the interim final rule for implementing no co-pay preventive services under the Affordable Care Act. All new private health insurance plans with plan years beginning on or after September 23, 2010 will have to cover recommended preventive services without cost-sharing when delivered by a network provider. This means that services such as tobacco and substance abuse cessation programs, screening for depression and obesity, screenings for cancer, diabetes and heart disease and many more will be provided to consumers without co-insurance or deductibles. The Administration is finally giving parity to many services of particular concern to the LGBT population, and this initiative will make it far easier for many in the community to access preventive care and improve their overall health outcomes.
This is also my last update as the Executive Director of the Coalition. It has been a pleasure working with you over the past four years, and it is my honor to announce that Hutson Inniss will be the Interim Executive Director. As you likely know, Hutson has been serving as one of the Coalition’s board co-chairs for the past two years and is a founding member of the Coalition.
Best,
Rebecca