Find Out How Health Reform Affects You
The National Health Care for the Homeless Council is focused on providing information that helps educate our members, policy makers at all levels of government, and the general public about components of the health reform law that are important to HCH grantees, similar service providers, and individuals experiencing homelessness.
The National HCH Council has developed materials aimed at the unique needs of HCH grantees and the consumers they serve. The policy briefs and other materials contained in that section are intended to help further inform and interpret the provisions of the health reform law as they currently stand. There are also recommendations for actions providers and consumers can take to further engage in the implementation of health reform at the state and local level.
We have also included the full consolidated text of the two health reform laws (Public Law 111-148, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, and Public Law 111-152, the Health and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010) and related government materials that summarize the law. These serve as reference materials for the law itself, combined with other guidance and documentation released from public agencies.
This site includes targeted health reform research and policy materials from other organizations as they address priority issues for the National HCH Council and its members. Media reports highlighting health reform and homelessness and the Council’s archived materials are also available.
Further policy guidance will become available from our federal partners and others in the field over time; however, there is much planning and preparation to be done now for the major changes coming in health care delivery and financing in the United States.
The National Health Care for the Homeless Council remains committed to its strong support for a publicly financed and privately administered national health care system structured around a “single payer” financing mechanism as the most effective and efficient way to provide comprehensive, high quality, and affordable health care coverage to everybody in the United States—especially for the most vulnerable. Until this is achieved, we will work to ensure the health insurance and health center expansions made possible by the ACA are implemented in a manner that accommodate the needs of people experiencing homelessness (and those at risk).
Also, view the joint amicus brief filed by the National HCH Council defending the ACA on the grounds of international human rights under our library of publications.