91探花faculty, staff and students are invited to attend a panel discussion on the 鈥淎ffordable Care Act: How You Can Make a Difference,鈥� 聽from 聽5 p.m. 聽to 6:30 p.m.,聽 Tuesday, Oct. 29, in 聽Hogness Auditorium at the 91探花Health Sciences Center.
Hosted by the UW鈥檚 six health sciences schools, the program will examine the Affordable Care Act鈥檚 impact on individual and public health. It also will cover local outreach efforts geared to those eligible for expanded Medicaid coverage or insurance offered through the Washington Health Benefits Exchange.
鈥淲e are focusing our efforts on how individuals can help make a difference during this time of reform,鈥� said Dr. Mark Oberle, 91探花associate dean for research in the School of Public Health and professor of health services, epidemiology and global health. 鈥淲e are encouraging people to reach out to friends, family and patients to make sure they know that coverage is available.鈥�
Dr. Howard Frumkin, dean of the School of Public Health, will provide a historical perspective of the Affordable Care Act and will discuss how the new mandate will affect the health of the public. Joining Frumkin are attorney Sallie Sanford, 91探花assistant professor of law and adjunct assistant professor of health services, and Dr. Patrick O鈥機arroll, U.S. assistant surgeon general and regional health administrator for Region X.
鈥淪anford will summarize the basics of the law and provide an overview on coverage that will be available,鈥� said Oberle. 鈥淥鈥機arroll will discuss how the law will affect clinical practice and the opportunities he sees for disease prevention.鈥�
Representatives from the Washington Health Insurance Marketplace and Public Health-Seattle & King County will talk about outreach efforts so far, as well as those expected in the future.
鈥淲ashington is one of only 14 states that created its own health insurance exchange,鈥� said Inderpal Virk, a physician who is a 91探花student in the 聽Masters of Public Health degree 聽program. He is doing his practicum with Public Health-Seattle & King County. 鈥淭o date, we have been one of the most successful. 聽Although we are moving in the right direction, we need everyone to be part of the effort so that we do not skew enrollment to an older, sicker population.鈥�
Of particular concern are young adults who, after age 26, are no longer eligible for their parents鈥� coverage.聽 Reaching the 鈥榶oung invincibles鈥� has been a particular challenge for the Washington Health Benefits Exchange. 鈥淚n order for the system to work, we need those healthy young individuals to be part of the pool,鈥� said Virk. 鈥淎s part of our panel discussion, we will have 91探花students on hand to talk about their special concerns as it relates to health-care coverage.鈥�
鈥淭his is an exciting time in our country,鈥� Virk said. 鈥淚t will take all of us working together to create healthy individuals and a healthier community.鈥�