Sister Carol Keehan, DC
President & CEO, Catholic Health Association
Keeping the Faith in Health Reform
FamiliesUSA Health Action Conference
Saturday February 6, 2016
© The Catholic Health Association of the United States
A moral imperative
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Matthew 20:33-34
‘Lord, let our eyes be opened.’ Moved with
compassion, Jesus touched their eyes.
Immediately they regained their sight and
followed him.
© The Catholic Health Association of the United States
Pope Francis — October 2, 2014
Education, work and access to
health care for all are key
elements for development . . . for
the attainment of social justice,
for membership in society, and for
free and responsible participation
in political life.
© The Catholic Health Association of the United States
A plea for the common good
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Historic & Challenging Journey
November, 1945 — President Truman proposes
national health program
February, 1974 — President Nixon proposes
comprehensive health reform
September, 1993 – President Clinton proposes
comprehensive health reform
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Historic & Challenging Journey
Why so difficult?
• Politics
• Money
• Vested interests
• Fundamentally different views on role of government
• Fear of what is different / unknown
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We Couldn’t Wait . . .
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Wonderful partnerships among
organizations & grassroots
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Incredible Effort Toward
Bipartisan Solution
Many elements of ACA grew out of Republican ideas:
• Individual mandate
• Pay for performance
• Incentives for participation in employee wellness program
• Dependent coverage through age 26
• Ban on pre-existing condition exclusions
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Only Democrats voted for the bill
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Misinformation
Significant misinformation campaign
Rationing
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Job Killer
Misinformation: More of the Myths
Beware, Obamacare:
• Mandates death panels
• Costs too much; will raise
national debt / deficit
• Creates single-payer,
government-run,
socialist-inspired health care
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Historic & Challenging Journey
March 23, 2010 – President Obama signs into law
comprehensive health reform
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Making a Difference / Changing Lives
• Greater health security
• Reliable, affordable coverage and peace of mind
• No more denials due to pre-existing condition
• Illness prevention /
community health improvement
• Greater financial security
• Fewer personal bankruptcies due to medical bills
• No more worries about affording doctor visit for child
• No more choices between food and medicine
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Health Reform Works: Bryce’s Story
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Broad Coverage Expansion
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Then & Now
THEN
NOW
Approximately 18% uninsured in 2013
Approximately 9% uninsured currently
Disproportionate lack of insurance
among minority populations
Latinos: 12% in uninsured rate
African-Americans: 9.2%
Inconsistent and inadequate coverage
of preventive services
Free coverage for many preventive
services including cancer screenings and
immunizations
Help for poor and vulnerable persons
Medicaid now covers 12 million people
who otherwise would not have
insurance
Tens of thousands of unnecessary
deaths due to incomplete coverage
Patient safety provisions have saved
50,000 lives and saved $12 billion
© The Catholic Health Association of the United States
Then & Now: Building on Progress
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How did myths work out?
MYTH / SCARE TACTIC
2010
Now
Unemployment
9.8%
4.9%
Excessive cost of subsidies
2014 cost estimate:
$16 billion
2014 actual spend:
$11 billion
Harm free market
Law will damage
state economies
Medicaid has been a
stimulus in every state that
has expanded
© The Catholic Health Association of the United States
Historic challenge
• To keep the law on the books
 House has voted to repeal the ACA 60+ times
 Constant threats to funding and major provisions
 Misinformation on how it works and who it helps continues to
surface
• To implement the law effectively
 Complex legislation
 Need to get it right to silence critics and keep people covered
 Must also be fair to health care providers
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Historic challenge
Also had to survive Supreme Court challenges TWICE
already!
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Then we had the website problems . . .
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Governors’ Refusal to Expand Medicaid
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Medicare & Medicaid faced obstacles too
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Vital to focus on accomplishment
ACA was a major accomplishment for
our nation and a significant advance for
human dignity.
We must address the challenges but
also look beyond them . . . The law is
working and has built a tremendous
foundation for 100% coverage.
© The Catholic Health Association of the United States
Building a health care future the
American people deserve
© The Catholic Health Association of the United States
Sister Carol Keehan, DC
President & CEO, Catholic Health Association
Keeping the Faith in Health Reform
FamiliesUSA Health Action Conference
Saturday February 6, 2016
© The Catholic Health Association of the United States