Health Information in Libraries: Affordable Care Act (ACA)
The Affordable Care Act was passed by Congress and then signed into law by the President on March 23, 2010. On June 28, 2012, the Supreme Court rendered a final decision to uphold the health care law.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has ten sections; the titles are:
- Title I. Quality, Affordable Health Care for All Americans
- Title II. The Role of Public Programs
- Title III. Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Health Care
- Title IV. Prevention of Chronic Disease and Improving Public Health
- Title V. Health Care Workforce
- Title VI. Transparency and Program Integrity
- Title VII. Improving Access to Innovative Medical Therapies
- Title VIII. Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act (CLASS Act)
- Title IX. Revenue Provisions
- Title X. Reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act
- Affordable Care Act InformationText of the health care law and the regulations issued to implement the law.
- Getting Healthcare CoverageOpen Enrollment for 2018 runs November 1 - December 15, 2017. Coverage starts January 1, 2018.
- 5 Ways to Apply for Health InsuranceYou can apply for a 2018 Marketplace health plan using any of the methods listed.
Role of Libraries
ALA Policy B.8.11, The Role of Libraries in Providing E-Government and Emergency Services (Old Number 50.16), states:
The American Library Association urges governments at all levels to acknowledge and support the essential role local libraries play in providing e-government and emergency response/recovery services, and to include libraries in relevant legislative or other policy actions. The American Library Association also encourages continued research documenting library needs and capacity to provide effective e-government and emergency response/recovery services, and help libraries develop best practices and train staff to deliver these essential services.
At the 2013 ALA Annual Conference, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced a collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and WebJunction, a program of OCLC, to assure that librarians have the information and connections with local experts needed to connect their patrons to information about the Health Insurance Marketplace when open enrollment began October 1, 2013.
Key Resources
- Healthcare.govThe official consumer site for the Marketplace.
- What is the Health Insurance Marketplace?Designed for those assisting people with the applications, a new way to find health insurance coverage. With one application, you can see all your options and enroll.
- Health Insurance MarketplaceDesigned for professionals, including librarians, interested in learning about the Marketplace and helping people apply. The site includes PowerPoint presentations, fact sheets, brochures, talking points and more.
- Regional Libraries of the National Network of Libraries of MedicineRegional centers offer general health reference materials, as well as dedicated ACA pages, which may have more specific local information.
- Get Covered AmericaA non-partisan, nonprofit group focused on raising public awareness and engaging consumers about health insurance available under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
- MedlinePlus - Health InsuranceAdministered by the US National Institutes of Health, which presents information on medicine and healthcare in easy-to-understand language.
- Health Happens in Libraries (WebJunction)A program that magnifies the role of public libraries as key contributors to community health. By supporting public library staff with resources to respond confidently to patron requests for health information, and tools to form intentional partnerships with local community health experts, Health Happens in Libraries enhances public library capacity to advance health and wellness priorities in the communities they serve. The formal program ended in June 2016, but the resources and materials continue to be available for anyone to use.