National Association of Social Workers

‘Law Recognizes Social Workers as Leading Providers of Health Care in the U.S.’

Health Care Reform Measure Celebrated

Embedded in the new law are several provisions that will directly benefit the profession.

By Matthew Malamud, News Staff

John Michael Yanson

Shortly after signing the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act at a White House ceremony March 23, President Barack Obama dashed to the U.S. Department of the Interior, a few blocks from the executive mansion, to address a throng of health care reform advocates. Among the crowd was NASW Executive Director Elizabeth J. Clark.

“It was a celebration,” Clark told NASW News. She said representatives were in attendance from just about every group NASW worked with over the previous year to shape and help deliver on health care reform.

“The president gave credit to the audience for helping bring about reform,” she noted, “and that was very satisfying.”

Clark said she is pleased that Congress passed what she considers more health insurance reform than health care reform, describing the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the 2010 Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act as “a good first step.” Congress passed the latter act to make several “fixes” to the former.

“I’m pleased that the insurance companies can no longer deny coverage to children with pre-

existing conditions and that they can’t put lifetime caps on coverage for illnesses,” Clark said. “I’m also pleased that dependent children up to the age of 26 can be covered under their parents’ insurance plans.”

Clark said she is disappointed, however, that the Medicare “donut hole” doesn’t close until 2020. That refers to the point at which Medicare Part D beneficiaries must foot the entire bill for prescription drugs — once the beneficiary and the insurance plan spend $2,830 on prescriptions in 2010 — until the benefits resume, $4,550 later.

NASW “fought very hard against Medicare Part D’s passage in 2003 precisely because of the donut hole,” Clark added. “People who can’t afford it, especially seniors on a fixed income, simply won’t seek care.”

Clark also said she’s disappointed that the ban on insurance companies’ practice of denying coverage to adults with pre-existing conditions doesn’t take effect immediately. Insurers have till 2014 to comply.

Nevertheless, the social work profession has much to be thankful for, Clark noted. Embedded in the new law are several provisions that will directly benefit the profession, including key elements of the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young Social Work Reinvestment Act.

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From May 2010 NASW News. © 2010 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. NASW News articles may be copied for personal use, but proper notice of copyright and credit to the NASW News must appear on all copies made. This permission does not apply to reproduction for advertising, promotion, resale, or other commercial purposes.