Labor & Employment Law

First Anniversary Approaches for Health Care Reform Law

By Mike Hall

The Affordable Care Act turns one year old Wednesday and hundreds of events are scheduled around the country to mark the health care reform law?s anniversary and fight back against Republican attempts to repeal the law.

Health Care for American Now (HCAN) Executive Director Ethan Rome says:

One year later, Republicans still have no health care plan other than to take away prescription drug discounts for seniors, no-cost preventive care for everyone, small-business tax credits and consumer protections like the ban on denying care or charging more because of pre-existing medical conditions.

In an op-ed piece in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala said that when President Obama signed the health care reform bill into law march 23,

the country took a giant and long-overdue step toward equitable health and social policy.

Many health care advocacy groups and unions?including AFSCME, the Alliance for Retired Americans, HCAN and others?are holding events to spotlight the Affordable Care Act?s benefits for small businesses, young adults, seniors, women and patient rights.

We will bring more on the health care reform law?s anniversary and its impact Wednesday.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on March 21, 2011 (boomark / email).