ATLANTA (July 10, 2012)—Less than 24 hours after the Supreme Court rendered its decision on the future of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), HealthCare Consumerism Radio was analyzing what the ruling meant for employers.
Featuring Georgia Congresswoman Pat Gardner, a Democrat from the 57th District in Atlanta, and Dr. Karen Minyard, director and associate research professor in the Department of Public Management and Policy Georgia Health Policy Center at Georgia State University, offered their opinions and what this landmark decision means for the future of health care in the country.
In addition to being a guest on the radio program, sponsored by The Institute for HealthCare Consumerism, Minyard was featured on WXIA-TV, an NBC affiliate in Atlanta during the Thursday evening telecast.
With a background in nursing, hospital administration and experience with the state Medicaid program, both with the design of a reformed Medicaid program and the external evaluation of the primary care case management program, the Supreme Court’s decision was a positive for Minyard.
“Employers are going to have to weigh the opportunities and the choices they have and decide what is going to be the best for their firm,” Minyard told the listening audience. “They have to take into account what is in the best option for their workers.”
Minyard explained how the use of government-run exchanges would greatly benefit employers with fewer than 50 employees, and key strategies companies with more than 50 employees need to do to stay compliant with the new law, which was deemed constitutional by a 5-4 margin by the Supreme Court.
“Not all small employees are the same,” Minyard added. “Some companies under 50 employees are competing for high-tech employees and feel the need to offer health insurance in order to compete. Other small firms with a lot of turnover may not feel the competitive need to offer health insurance. It is something each employer will have to sort through and weigh all the options. It is going to take some time and organizational research and the employers are going to need some help.”
Minyard sees the health exchanges as being that source to help employers find the best option to provide health insurance.
Gardner also was ecstatic over the Supreme Court’s decision. A 12-year member in the Georgia House of Representatives, Gardner was a cog in introducing the Peach Care for All Children Act, a bipartisan effort providing comprehensive health care to children through the age of 18 who do not qualify for Medicaid and live in households with incomes at or below 235 percent of the federal poverty level.
Gardner sees PPACA as making health insurance more accessible for everyone. She also likes the fact that anyone with a pre-condition cannot be denied coverage.
“No one can be more delighted than me,” Gardner said. “I have a daughter with a pre-condition. Now we don’t have to face the anxiety in the future of not being denied coverage.”
The program originally aired June 29, and HealthCare Consumerism Radio will present an encore presentation of the program July 6.
To continue a fair and balanced approach to the Supreme Court decision, The Institute for HealthCare Consumerism will present a roundtable discussion on the July 13 show featuring opposition to the health care law.
Field and Bachman will welcome U.S. Congressman Tom Price (Ga-R) on the show as well as Bill Sweetnam, Jr., principal at Groom Law Group in Washington D.C., and Washington insider Roy Ramthun, a health savings account guru and president of HSA Consulting Services LLC.
Ramthun, a former senior health policy advisor in George W. Bush’s cabinet, and the rest of the panelists will speculate on what will occur with the November elections and the Republicans’ strategy of repeal and replace of the health care law.
About HealthCare Consumerism Radio
The goal of the radio show is to help listeners LEARN about the latest trends and best practices in health care consumerism and CONNECT them with health care industry thought leaders, brokers, advisors, third party administrators, HR and benefit managers and regional health plan providers. Listeners can also SHARE by contacting the hosts of the show and suggesting archives to industry associates. For partnership opportunities contact Managing Director, Brent Macy at bmacy@theihcc.com.
About The Institute for HealthCare Consumerism
The Institute for HealthCare Consumerism is the only multi-platform, collaborative community focused exclusively on innovative health and benefit management. It’s a place for employers (including human resources and benefits managers, wellness executives, C-suite executives, financial management decision makers, executives), TPAs, solution providers, brokers, advisors, consultants, and administrators of regional health plan providers to LEARN, CONNECT and SHARE through The Institute’s publication, CDHC Solutions Magazine, its live conference series FORUM East and FORUM West, and its online networking community at www.TheIHCC.com. As a catalyst for the growth of the health care consumerism movement, The Institute deepens the conversation and collaboration between its invested stakeholders.
For more information and to become a free member of The Institute for HealthCare Consumerism please visit www.theihcc.com.
For more information about The Institute for HealthCare Consumerism Radio:
Todd Callahan, Editorial Director The Institute for HealthCare Consumerism (www.theihcc.com) tcallahan@fieldmedia.com or 404-401-7985.