On Tuesday, May 15, Virginia Organizing and the Virginia Main Street Alliance will hold a health care reform seminar for small businesses at the Church of the Holy Apostles, 1593 Lynnhaven Parkway in Virginia Beach from 3:00-4:00 p.m.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM: Many people are waiting for the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on health care reform, which is expected in late June. It is good to see that Virginia is moving forward. The administration of Governor Bob McDonnell continues to talk internally about how best to implement health care reform in Virginia. After the Supreme Court ruling, there may be a special session of the Virginia General Assembly to make the major decisions about health care reform. The more small businesses communicate their concerns with the General Assembly, the better Virginia’s final outcome will be.
For information about the General Assembly, or to find out who your state legislators are go to http://legis.virginia.gov/
The Virginia Health Reform Initiative is the task force appointed by the Governor to oversee how Virginia will implement health care reform. It met at least three times in 2010 and three in 2011. Currently it has two more meetings set for 2012. The meetings are: Thursday, May 24 at the Virginia Department of Health Professions off Gaskins Road in Western Henrico County; and Wednesday, June 13 at the Virginia Department of Health Professions. All the meetings are set to run from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. See http://www.hhr.virginia.gov/Initiatives/HealthReform/ for details. The May 24 meeting will focus specifically on the small business part of the Health Benefits Exchange.
A Kaiser Family Foundation analyzed federal spending under the Affordable Care Act. It found that the federal government spent slightly over $12 billion under ACA programs. 47% of the money went to businesses in support of health care coverage. Another 21% went to the states to help set up the HBE (health benefits exchange). You can view the chart and access the report at http://slides.kff.org/chart.aspx?ch=2493
As part of the overall health care reform effort, Virginia has loosened the limits on the work that Physicians Assistants and Dental Hygienists are allowed to do. Under several new laws, these professionals are allowed to do the work they are trained to do without a doctor looking over their shoulder.
On Wednesday, May 23 there will be a free seminar on funding options for small businesses. The seminar will be from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Hilton hotel at Norfolk Airport, 1500 North Military Highway. For more information please go to http://7in7norfolk.eventbrite.com/
