The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was signed into law in March 2010, and contains numerous provisions that will have a wide ranging impact on the nation’s health care system. The law will be implemented incrementally over eight years and will address private and public insurance coverage, health care quality, payments to providers, and public health.  The Center for Mississippi Health Policy has produced a series of issue briefs that explain the contents of the Act and consider the potential impact in Mississippi.

An Overview of Health Reform

The Center for Mississippi Health Policy collaborated with the Georgia Health Policy Center at Georgia State University to examine changes in coverage that are likely to occur following implementation of health care reform in 2014 and beyond.  The issue brief, An Overview of Health Reform, takes a high level look at the contents of health reform legislation and projects shifts in coverage for Mississippi and the United States.

Health Reform Implications for Employers

The issue brief, Health Reform Implications for Employers, considers the potential impact of health reform legislation on employers.  Small employers (fewer than 25 employees) that offer health coverage to their employees may be eligible for tax credits beginning in 2010.  TheHealth Reform Calculator for Small Businesses© provides these employers a simple way to get a rough idea of the amount of tax credit they could receive in 2010.

Building a Health Insurance Exchange in Mississippi

A key provision in PPACA is the implementation of a nationwide system of Health Insurance Exchanges to provide individuals and small businesses improved access to affordable health coverage.   Each state will either elect to set up its own Exchange or allow the federal government to do so.  The issue brief, Building a Health Insurance Exchange in Mississippi, examines the issues and decision points facing policymakers in establishing a Health Insurance Exchange in the state.