Sec. Kathleen Sebelius 2013-06-19T16:37:06-04:00 Sec. Kathleen Sebelius http://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/index.php?author=sec-kathleen-sebelius Copyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Sec. Kathleen Sebelius Good old fashioned elbow grease. A Long Overdue Wave of Health Innovation -- and the Smart Policies Behind It tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3377784 2013-06-03T09:02:18-04:00 2013-06-04T12:44:04-04:00 Sec. Kathleen Sebelius http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sec-kathleen-sebelius/ Health Data Initiative with 45 people gathered in a conference room. Our theory was that if we unlocked the vast stores of public data our Department collects on everything from provider quality to clinical trials, entrepreneurs would use it to create new tools that would lead to better health for Americans and lower costs across the system.

This week marks the fourth annual edition of what has come to be known as 'Datapalooza,' and the results have exceeded our wildest expectations. What started as a small brainstorming session has grown into an event that brings together nearly 2,000 tech developers, health care professionals, researchers, policy makers, and business executives. Apps and software showcased at Datapalooza are now being used to do everything from creating customized hospital discharge plans that help reduce readmissions to helping consumers research surgical procedures.

These innovations promise to transform aspects of the health care experience where progress has stagnated for decades. Think about showing up at a doctor's office and filling out forms on a clipboard in a waiting room. Huge swaths of the American health care system have long felt frozen in time.

As the incredible new products on display this week at Datapalooza demonstrate, the problem wasn't a lack of new ideas. The problem instead was obstacles--for example, inaccessible data--that prevented those ideas from being put into action. But what Datapalooza is showing is that smart policy can be instrumental in removing these obstacles to innovation. And we're now seeing the same pattern play out across the health care system.

Take electronic health records. We've long known digital health records are a critical tool for improving patient health--but because they came with high upfront costs and compatibility challenges, they were being used by fewer than 10 percent of hospitals and fewer than 20 percent of doctors in 2008. By reducing the obstacles to adoption through incentives that help offset those startup expenses and through common standards for information sharing, our Department has been able to dramatically speed up the spread of this technology in just a few years. As of last month, over half of doctors and nearly 80 percent of hospitals have adopted electronic health records to improve patient care.

You can see similar progress in care delivery. For years, the best methods employed by our leading hospitals, like delivering care in teams to ensure better coordination, were confined to small pockets of our health care system. Part of the problem was payment policies that often rewarded providers for delivering unnecessary and duplicative care, while punishing those who kept patients healthy and out of the hospital.

Through the health care law, we're starting to change those incentives, and the results have been dramatic. In the last few years, more than 250 health organizations of all shapes and sizes have formed Accountable Care Organizations that agree to be paid partly on how successful they are at keeping patients healthy and costs low. And similar models are spreading rapidly in states and among private insurers.

While these changes are still in their early stages, Americans are already seeing benefits. For example, hospital readmission rates for Medicare beneficiaries that had held steady for years have now fallen to a record low. And national health care spending has grown at historically low rates for three straight years.

There's more work to be done to create the kind of 21st century health care system Americans deserve, but these early results--and the pioneering technologies, products, and apps on display at Datapalooza this week--clearly illustrate that big gains are possible when the right conditions for innovation are present.

Going forward, our Department will continue seeking out opportunities to help empower health care innovators. Last month, we released data for the first time on how much hospitals charge for different inpatient procedures. And today, we're releasing similar data for outpatient care. As one innovator recently told me, "data is oxygen for innovation--and there's a lot more oxygen in the environment now."

We don't know exactly how developers will use this raw material. What we do know is that the combination of smart government policies and the ingenuity of American entrepreneurs has proven to be a powerful formula for producing long overdue innovation in health care. And that's great news for the American people.]]> Class of 2013: Graduate With Peace of Mind tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3319763 2013-05-22T10:50:07-04:00 2013-05-22T12:29:50-04:00 Sec. Kathleen Sebelius http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sec-kathleen-sebelius/
Congratulations on a well-earned graduation. I know how much hard work it took to get here today.

This is a time when you're making big decisions about the future. You might be embarking on a new career, transitioning to a different city, and thinking about the start of this next exciting stage in life.

I'm sure the last thing you're thinking about is health insurance. But unfortunately, the unexpected can happen.

The good news is that now the Affordable Care Act provides protections and benefits that give you greater control of your health care. The law helps you by:

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  • Making it possible to stay on your parent's health plan until you turn 26, giving you the flexibility to make choices about your future without worrying about where you're going to get health insurance.


  • Requiring most insurance plans to cover proven preventive services -- like birth control and certain cancer screenings -- without you paying a penny.


  • Barring insurers, beginning in 2014, from denying you coverage because of a pre-existing condition, like cancer, asthma, or acne, or making you pay more just because you are a woman.


  • Creating an online Health Insurance Marketplace, where you can find coverage that meets your needs and budget. You can also find out if you qualify for financial assistance. Sign up now at HealthCare.gov for updates; enrollment begins October 1, 2013.



Bottom line: Because of the Affordable Care Act, you'll be able to begin this next chapter of your life with the peace of mind and security health insurance provides.

Congratulations on your achievement!]]> What's At Stake if the Health Law Is Repealed tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3288382 2013-05-16T17:08:40-04:00 2013-05-16T19:05:40-04:00 Sec. Kathleen Sebelius http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sec-kathleen-sebelius/
Yet today, for nearly the 40th time since it's been the law of the land, House Republicans staged yet another repeal vote in their latest attempt to turn back the clock on progress and deny Americans health insurance coverage they can count on.





Here's what Americans would lose if repeal actually happened:


  • Repeal Decreases Access to Quality Care. The 6.6 million young people from South Carolina to Ohio to Utah who have gained coverage under their parents' health plans up to age 26 would lose that option. Insurance companies in many states could return to the days of refusing coverage to 17 million children living with a pre-existing condition like diabetes or asthma. For the 129 million Americans across the country living with a pre-existing condition, repeal would take away the security of knowing that, beginning next year, their health coverage can't be revoked or denied. Repeal would also eliminate the free, critical preventive vaccines, flu shots, contraception, mammograms, and other screenings that have already helped 71 million Americans stay healthy and active.


  • Repeal Hurts Seniors and Undermines Medicare. For America's seniors, from Florida to Oklahoma to Nevada, repeal would increase medical costs by hundreds of dollars a month at a time when they could least afford it. It would eliminate the discounts that have brought 6.1 million of them an average savings of $706 on their prescription drugs, enough to cover the cost of several months of groceries. Nearly 50 million Medicare beneficiaries from Virginia to Kentucky to Idaho would lose access to free, life-saving preventive care, including cancer screenings and annual wellness visits. And repeal would undo ambitious delivery reforms that have helped reduce projected Medicare spending by hundreds of millions of dollars over the next ten years.


  • Repeal Raises Taxes on the Middle Class and Small Businesses, and Increases Our Deficit. Starting next year, 18 million middle-class families across the country the country would be denied access to a tax credit averaging $4,000 each that would make it easier to purchase health insurance. Small businesses from Pennsylvania to Louisiana would also lose access to tax credits that are already helping to provide coverage for 2 million American workers. And repeal would increase the deficit by $100 billion over the next ten years.


  • Repeal Returns Unchecked Power to Insurance Companies. The law has slowed the growth of premium increases by doing away with the worst insurance company abuses. Nearly 13 million individuals and families have saved an average of $150 due to a new rule requiring more premium dollars to be spent on delivering actual care instead of on overhead costs and CEO salaries. Insurance companies must also now publicly justify all premium increases of 10 percent or more. Those two provisions alone have already produced more than $2 billion in rebates for millions of Americans who are privately insured. Repealing the law would return the power of unchecked premium increases back to insurance companies in states that haven't set up their own protections.


  • Repeals Denies Women Control Over Their Own Health Care. For American women in every corner of the country, repeal would bring us back to the days when simply being a woman was a pre-existing condition. Insurers would once again be able to charge women far more than men pay for the same health benefits.



By refighting old battles and reopening old wounds, repeal efforts would take away the peace of mind that affordable health insurance provides for the millions of Americans who can't afford to go back to the way things were.

For the majority of Americans who already have insurance, the law makes it stronger. And for 25 million Americans who lack the security of health coverage, expanded Medicaid in many states and new Health Insurance Marketplaces opening for enrollment in every state this fall will finally give them access to coverage that fits their budget and meets their health needs.

Because of the law, we're increasing access to affordable care, slowing premium increases, and bringing down health spending growth to its slowest rate in half a century. We're making health insurance work for small businesses, and providing the strongest consumer protections in history.

We know our health care system's problems weren't created overnight, and they won't be solved overnight. But Americans are far better off today than they would be without the health care law. And while we work to implement and strengthen the law, it's clear we're moving our health care system in the right direction. We simply can't afford to turn back now.]]> Affordable Care Act at 3: Looking Forward and Expanding Access tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2932681 2013-03-22T11:09:29-04:00 2013-05-22T05:12:01-04:00 Sec. Kathleen Sebelius http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sec-kathleen-sebelius/
Since then, more than 6.3million seniors and people with disabilities with Medicare have saved more than $6.1 billion dollars on prescription drugs. Nearly 71 million Americans got expanded access to preventive service at no charge through their private insurance plans, and 47 million women now have guaranteed access to additional preventive services without cost sharing. More than 3.1 million young adults who were uninsured were able to gain coverage by being able to stay on their parents' insurance policies until they turned 26. And parents no longer have to worry about insurers denying coverage to their children because of a pre-existing condition.

Americans are getting more value for their health care dollars due to the health care law. Affordable Care Act initiatives are promoting coordinated care; paying for quality, not quantity; and dramatically reducing fraud and waste, contributing to the slowest growth in national health spending in 50 years.

Consumers also saved $2 billion in 2012, because of programs to review premium rates and to require insurers to provide rebates if they do not spend at least 80% of premiums on care, rather than overhead, such as executive pay and marketing. And the law's initiatives have extended the life of the Medicare Trust Fund by eight years.

But that's only the beginning. Thanks to the health care law, starting October 1, 2013, qualified individuals will have access to quality health insurance through the new Health Insurance Marketplace.

With the Marketplace, there'll be a whole new way to find health insurance that fits consumers' needs and budgets, with less hassle. Individuals, families, and small business owners in every state and the District of Columbia will be able to shop in the Marketplace for private insurance coverage that begins in January 2014.

For the first time, you'll be able to go to one place to learn about health insurance; get accurate information on different plans; and make apples-to-apples comparisons of private insurance plans--including costs and benefits. You'll get a clear picture of what you're paying and what you're getting before you make a choice. You'll also be able to learn, with a single application, if you qualify for a free or low-cost plan, or a new kind of tax credit that lowers your monthly premiums right away.



Because the Affordable Care Act outlaws discriminating against anyone with a pre-existing or chronic condition, as of January 1, 2014, no one can be turned away by plans in the Marketplace or charged more because they're in poorer health--or just because they're a woman. At last, being a woman will no longer be a pre-existing condition.

And every health insurance plan in the Marketplace will cover a standard set of essential health benefits that includes, among other benefits, hospital stays, prescription drug coverage, preventive services, oral and vision care for kids.

Open enrollment begins October 1, 2013. Get ready now for the Marketplace by signing up for e-mails and text messages for updates and information.

In June, the site will be unveiling the new Marketplace. You'll be able to learn everything you need to know about the Marketplace, including how it works, the benefits of health insurance, how to choose a plan based on your needs and lifestyle, and more. Then in the fall, you can use this site to enroll in a plan from home, or from any place you can access the Web.

Every American needs and deserves quality health insurance. The Marketplace will help ensure that Americans will have access to quality, affordable health insurance.

Learn more about the Health Insurance Marketplace at www.Healthcare.gov.]]> Affordable Care Act at 3: Abby's Story tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2906992 2013-03-19T09:59:48-04:00 2013-05-19T05:12:01-04:00 Sec. Kathleen Sebelius http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sec-kathleen-sebelius/ I'd like to introduce you to Abby Schanfield, who has an important and inspiring story to tell about how the Affordable Care Act has changed her life. She recently attended the State of the Union address as a guest of the First Lady.

This is Abby's story in her words:



I remember the day the health care law passed three years ago. The law made history as one of the most significant pieces of health related legislation since the passage of Medicare and Medicaid. On a personal level, it fundamentally changed the course of my life. At the time, I was 20 years old, a college student, and facing the reality that I would be kicked off my parents' high-quality private insurance, on my twenty-first birthday. I would have limited, if any, options for health insurance and it put me face to face with my own mortality.

I was born with a serious, rare disease. Without high-quality health care, or health insurance, I would suffer potentially fatal consequences. Most children who are born with my disease, toxoplasmosis, have profound side-effects that can include organ failure, blindness, and intellectual disabilities. Throughout my childhood, I was fairly healthy. But during high school I began to face the realities of what it meant to have this disease. I had neurosurgery to replace the 16-year-old shunt that was installed to drain spinal fluid collecting on my brain, and I lost vision in my left eye when the parasite attacked my eyes. Since then, I have struggled to remain healthy and have had several shunt replacements and eye surgeries.

Knowing how stressful, painful, and scary these experiences were with health insurance, as I got older, my family and I went into a panic. We knew I would no longer be eligible for their insurance, and we knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I would be denied coverage due to my multiple pre-existing conditions. This was where we were in March 2010.

But everything changed three years ago, when President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act.

Over the last three years, my fear has disappeared and has been replaced with a profound sense of hope and empowerment. Now, I can stay on my parents' plan until I turn 26. As a 22-year-old college graduate with multiple pre-existing conditions, I could not be more grateful. Moreover, now there are no more lifetime limits on how much my insurance company will pay for my essential health benefits -- and annual limits are ending, too. And in 2014, the health care law helps to ensure that I cannot be denied coverage due to my chronic illness.

However, there is greater hope beyond what I am experiencing personally. The governors of many states are getting behind expansion of Medicaid coverage for Americans who may find it difficult to afford private insurance. The states and the federal government also are creating a Health Insurance Marketplace for each state, where people can compare health plans based on price and benefits and purchase the one that best fits their needs. Open enrollment starts Oct. 1, 2013, with coverage beginning as soon as January 2014.

I am eager to see what the coming years will bring. The Affordable Care Act is still a new law, and there is certainly more work to be done. It will not happen overnight, nor will it be easy. However, in just three years, we are already well on our way to building a more equitable, effective, and high-quality system of care. This is not the end; it is merely the beginning.

Read more about Abby's story here.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services supports the statements by the guest author of this article.]]> How the Health Care Law Protects You tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2807752 2013-03-04T18:58:49-05:00 2013-05-04T05:12:01-04:00 Sec. Kathleen Sebelius http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sec-kathleen-sebelius/
Beginning Oct. 1, 2013, you'll be able to shop for health insurance and compare plans through the Health Insurance Marketplace in your state. You'll see up front what different plans are likely to cost you and have the opportunity to enroll in the plan you decide is right for you. Should you need help sorting through your options, there will now be people available to assist you.

To help you, your family, friends, and neighbors get ready for enrollment in a plan that you choose through the Health Insurance Marketplace, you can find out more and sign up for email and text updates by visiting https://signup.healthcare.gov/.

The Affordable Care Act also gives you greater control over the care you receive. By requiring insurers to provide you with an easy-to-understand summary of your health plan's benefits and coverage -- including a glossary of insurance terms -- you will have the information you need to evaluate your options.

The health care law prohibits some of the worst insurance industry practices that have kept affordable health coverage out of reach for millions of Americans when they needed it most. For example, in the past, insurance companies could deny you coverage because you were sick or had a pre-existing condition. Starting in 2014, the law makes it illegal for insurance companies to deny you coverage because of a pre-existing condition. New protections applicable to most plans beginning in 2014 will also prevent insurance companies from charging you more because of your gender or occupation.




Because of the law, it's already illegal for insurance companies to deny coverage to children under age 19 because of a pre-existing condition, or to cancel your coverage because you made an honest mistake on your application. The law also ensures your right to appeal health insurance plan decisions.



In addition, insurance companies can no longer put a lifetime dollar limit on most of the benefits you receive and starting in 2014, insurers will be prohibited from imposing annual dollar limits.

The law also prevents insurance companies from raising your premium rates without accountability or transparency. The law requires insurance companies in every state to publicly provide easy-to-understand information to their customers about their reasons for significant rate increases, and any unreasonable rate increases are posted online. We know this is working. The number of requests for insurance premium increases of 10 percent or more has dropped dramatically, from 75 percent to 14 percent.

This rate review program works in conjunction with the 80/20 rule, which requires insurance companies to generally spend 80 percent of premiums on health care (rather than CEO salaries and marketing) or provide rebates to their customers. Insurance companies that did not meet the 80/20 rule have provided nearly 13 million Americans with more than $1.1 billion in rebates. Americans receiving the rebate have benefited from an average rebate of $151 per household.

Many elements of the Affordable Care Act protect consumers and make the health insurance market work better for individuals, families, and small businesses. Because of the Affordable Care Act, more Americans than ever before will have access to quality health insurance they can afford.]]> America's Middle Class Promise Starts Early tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2805701 2013-03-04T10:30:28-05:00 2013-05-04T05:12:01-04:00 Sec. Kathleen Sebelius http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sec-kathleen-sebelius/
But for millions of young children in this country, the first rung on that ladder is missing because they are cut off from the kind of early learning that would set them up for success in school -- with consequences that could last the rest of their lives. Our Administration is committed to closing that costly, unfair opportunity gap through a new plan that will deliver high-quality preschool for every American child, and enhance early learning services for children from birth through age three.



Study after study confirms what every teacher knows: young children who experience secure, stimulating environments with rich learning opportunities from an early age are better prepared to thrive in school. Indeed, both of us have watched our own children expand their worlds and their minds in the years before they entered school, whether at home or in quality early learning settings. Unfortunately, many American children don't receive these opportunities.

Fewer than three in 10 American 4-year-olds attend a high-quality preschool program filled with well-organized learning experiences, guided exploration, art, and storytelling, and led by a skilled teacher. The availability of high-quality care and educational services for infants and toddlers is even lower. And the gap is especially pronounced in low-income communities.

Our failure to ensure access to strong preschool is morally indefensible and economically counterproductive. Strong early learning can translate into school success, which can lead to college and good jobs, and ultimately a robust economy. Research shows that every public dollar spent on high-quality early childhood education returns $7 through increased productivity and savings on public assistance and criminal justice programs.

That's why President Obama has announced a comprehensive plan to help every child develop a strong foundation for future success. Recognizing that this is a time for fiscal caution, the President has been clear that, when combined with his plan for balanced deficit reduction, none of these proposals will add a dime to the deficit. But ultimately, this is an investment that we can't afford not to make. Under his plan, we will work together to:

  • Make universal, high-quality preschool available to four-year olds from low- and moderate-income families through a partnership with states, while also expanding these preschool programs to reach additional children from middle class families and providing incentives for full-day kindergarten. This new partnership would provide incentives for states to cover all families who want to send their children to preschool and offer high-quality preschool, with low class sizes, qualified teachers, and stimulating learning experiences.
  • Launch a new Early Head Start-Child Care partnership to significantly expand the availability of high-quality early learning opportunities for infants and toddlers.
  • Expand highly effective, voluntary home visiting programs where nurses, family educators and social workers connect low-income families to health, social, and educational supports.




These actions build on steps the Administration has already taken to boost early learning for our most vulnerable children, from improving accountability and quality of Head Start services to encouraging more systemic policies and investments that will improve the quality and effectiveness of early education through the Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge, which rewards states that raise the bar on quality and provide links with health, nutrition, mental health, and family supports.


As we move forward with this economically vital effort, we can look to states that have shown the way. In Michigan and Massachusetts, for example, Governors Rick Snyder and Deval Patrick have made expanding access to preschool programs a priority. In Alabama, Governor Robert Bentley has proposed new resources to rapidly expand early education. These leaders represent a bipartisan consensus that America can't win the race for the future by holding back children at the starting line.


Unfortunately, the blunt, arbitrary cuts that Congress allowed to go into effect through sequestration will do exactly that. President Obama has put forward a balanced plan to replace those cuts and reduce the deficit, which includes spending cuts along entitlement and tax reform. If Congress fails to compromise, up to 70,000 students could be dropped from Head Start and up to 30,000 low-income children would be left without child care subsidies. These cuts jeopardize our children's futures. America, which now ranks 28th globally in early childhood enrollment, risks falling even further behind the rest of the world in preparing our children for school.



Early childhood education is one of the best investments we can make in America's future. Now is the time to redouble our efforts, not cut back. Doing right by our youngest children is essential to America's middle-class promise. We look forward to working together to make it happen.

]]> Holding Insurance Companies Accountable for High Premium Increases tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2742501 2013-02-22T12:52:33-05:00 2013-04-24T05:12:01-04:00 Sec. Kathleen Sebelius http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sec-kathleen-sebelius/ Affordable Care Act prohibits some of the worst insurance industry practices that have kept affordable health coverage out of reach for millions of Americans. It provides families and individuals with new protections against discriminatory rates due to pre-existing conditions, holds insurance companies accountable for how they spend your premium dollars, and prevents insurance companies from raising your insurance premium rates without accountability or transparency.

For more than a decade before the Affordable Care Act health insurance premiums had risen rapidly, straining the pocketbooks of American families and businesses. Oftentimes, insurance companies were able to raise rates without explanation to consumers or public justification of their actions.

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The Affordable Care Act brought an unprecedented level of scrutiny and transparency to health insurance rate increases by requiring insurance companies in every state to publicly justify their actions if they want to raise rates by 10% or more. Insurance companies are required to provide easy to understand information to their customers about their reasons for significant rate increases, and any unreasonable rate increases are posted online.

And it's working.

A new report released today shows that the health care law is helping to moderate premium hikes. Since this rule was implemented, the number of requests for insurance premium increases of 10% or more has dropped dramatically, from 75% to 14%. The average premium increase for all rates in 2012 was 30% below what it was in 2010. And available data suggest that this slowdown in rate increases has continued into 2013.

Moreover, when an insurer does decide to increase rates, consumers are seeing lower rate increases than what the insurers initially requested. In the review of rate requests for 10% or more, over 50% resulted in customers receiving either a lower rate increase than requested or no increase at all.

States have received $250 million in Health Insurance Rate Review Grants to help strengthen and improve their rate review processes thanks to the Affordable Care Act. Of the 44 states that received rate review grants, 40 have reported enhancements to their rate review websites. These website enhancements include searchable rate filings, new public comment options, live streaming of rate hearings, and plain language explanations of rate review and rate filings.

The Effective Rate Review program is one of many in the health care law aimed at protecting consumers. The rate review program works in conjunction with the 80/20 rule, which requires insurance companies to generally spend 80% of premiums on health care or provide rebates to their customers. Insurance companies that did not meet the 80/20 rule have provided nearly 13 million Americans with more than $1.1 billion in rebates. Americans receiving the rebate will benefit from an average rebate of $151 per household.

Additionally, today we issued a final rule that implements five key consumer protections from the Affordable Care Act, including protection against denial of health coverage because of a pre-existing condition. This rule makes the health insurance market work better for individuals, families and small businesses, and it also increases the transparency brought to rate increases by directing insurance companies in every state to file all of their rate increase requests.

To learn more about the final rule issued today, visit: http://www.ofr.gov/inspection.aspx
To read today's report on Rate Review, visit: http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/2013/rateIncreaseIndvMkt/rb.cfm]]> A Vision for a Rising, Thriving Middle Class tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2694710 2013-02-15T10:06:27-05:00 2013-04-17T05:12:01-04:00 Sec. Kathleen Sebelius http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sec-kathleen-sebelius/
At the Department of Health and Human Services, we're committed to supporting the president's vision, starting with making health care affordable for working families so that all Americans have a fair shot at living full, productive lives.

Americans who work hard to make a decent living shouldn't have to worry about losing everything because of an illness. That's why, through reforms brought about by the Affordable Care Act, we're putting money back in the pockets of working families, and protecting them from the worst insurance abuses.

Because of the progress we've made, 54 million Americans with private insurance now have access to free preventive care, including mammograms and diabetes screenings. More than 3 million young people have been able to gain coverage through their parents' plan. And 3.5 million seniors saved an average of $706 on their prescription drugs last year.

Families will get even more relief beginning this October, when new Health Insurance Marketplaces open for enrollment in every state. These Marketplaces will give millions of uninsured Americans access to affordable coverage. And new rules taking effect in 2014 will finally bring an end to discrimination based on gender or pre-existing conditions.

Think about what this means for people like Abby Schanfield, a young woman who attended the State of the Union address as a guest of the First Lady. Abby was born with a rare congenital disease that will likely require surgeries throughout her adult life. Now, not only can she stay on her parents' plan until she turns 26, she also knows that she will never again have to worry about an insurance company turning her away because of her condition, or offering her discriminatory rates because of her gender.




Thanks to this progress, Abby can pursue her dreams knowing she'll be able to get the care she needs. That's the peace of mind that health care reform is bringing to millions of middle class Americans like Abby.

Of course, opportunity is about more than affordable health coverage. Having a good job is the cornerstone of middle class financial security. That's why we need to make sure Americans can get the skills they need to do the jobs of tomorrow.

Over the last four years, our Department has trained thousands of new workers to take jobs in fields with high demand, like primary care and health information technology. And the plan the president laid out in his State of the Union address will build on efforts like these by making college more affordable, investing in job-creating industries like clean energy, and forging partnerships with businesses and communities to train American workers for high-tech manufacturing jobs.

We also know that our kids won't be able to compete for the jobs of the future if they've already fallen behind by the time they reach kindergarten. That's why this Administration has made historic investments in early childhood education, and worked to strengthen critical programs like Head Start.

The president has called on Congress to build on this work by expanding access to high-quality preschool to every child in America. His plan would create a new federal-state partnership to provide all low- and moderate-income four-year-olds with high-quality pre-school, while also expanding programs to reach additional children from middle class families. Studies show that early childhood investments pay for themselves many times over. We simply can't afford not to give our children the support they need in these critical early years.

As we continue to strengthen the middle class and invest in our future, the last thing we can afford is a self-manufactured crisis in our economy. Absent Congressional action, March 1st will bring about abrupt and devastating cuts to programs that American families rely on every day, including food safety inspections and mental health services. The president's proposal would prevent these cuts while reducing our deficit by $4 trillion using a balanced, responsible approach -- and under his plan, every new proposal he has put forward would be fully paid for.

Now is the time to work together to ensure that our economy continues to grow in a way that lifts up all working families. We've made tremendous progress in the last few years, but we also know that there is much more to do to ensure that every American has the chance to pursue their dreams. The president has laid out a great roadmap for us to follow as we move forward in pursuit of a stronger, healthier, more prosperous America.]]> More Than Valentine's Day: Taking Care of Our Hearts tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2618088 2013-02-04T16:53:29-05:00 2013-04-06T05:12:01-04:00 Sec. Kathleen Sebelius http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sec-kathleen-sebelius/
Right now, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Every year, it takes the lives of more than half a million Americans: These are our grandparents, our parents, our siblings, our friends, and our neighbors.  Although many people think of  heart disease as a man's problem, women can and do get heart disease.

This epidemic kills more women than diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and lung cancer combined. In the United States, a woman suffers a heart attack every 90 seconds.

The good news is that most of the risk factors for heart disease -- including obesity, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking -- are preventable and controllable.

Now, because of the health care law, millions of Americans with private plans can get life-saving preventive services like high blood pressure screening and help to quit smoking, without paying a penny out-of-pocket.

And seniors and people with disabilities who have Medicare can now get recommended preventive services like obesity counseling and cholesterol screening free of charge.

HHS Secretary Heart Month Infographic. Click to see a full size image.The law also invests in programs like the Million Hearts initiative, which aims to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over five years. And it invests in the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which helps fight the causes of chronic illnesses like heart disease by, among other things, controlling the obesity epidemic, tackling health disparities, and reducing tobacco use.

Combined with these efforts, having the security of quality, affordable health insurance is also vital in the fight against heart disease. In less than a year, it will be illegal for insurance companies to deny any American coverage because of a pre-existing condition, like heart disease.

And starting Oct. 1, 2013, uninsured and underinsured Americans will be able to shop for affordable health insurance through their state's Health Insurance Marketplace.

The Marketplace will give Americans the ability to compare health insurance plans based on price, quality, benefits, and other important features. If you need health insurance or know someone who does, you can visit HealthCare.gov  to find insurance options and sign up for email and text updates that will help you get ready for the new Marketplace.

The Heart Truth Infographic. Image Courtesy of The Heart Truth. Click to see a full size image.And this Valentine's Day, CardioSmart Exit disclaimer icon -- the American College of Cardiology's patient education initiative -- is partnering with national health care institutions and academic medical centers to provide free heart health screenings and educational programs to women across the country.

February is not just a time when many people fondly think of those close to their heart. It is also a time to take care of your heart.

To learn more about American Heart Month and find out how you can participate:




You can listen to our podcast on this subject, too.


A version of this article was originally posted on HealthCare.gov on February 4, 2013.





For more by Sec. Kathleen Sebelius, click here.

For more healthy living health news, click here.]]> Countdown to Affordable Health Insurance tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2582417 2013-01-30T17:16:41-05:00 2013-04-01T05:12:01-04:00 Sec. Kathleen Sebelius http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sec-kathleen-sebelius/ HealthCare.gov. The countdown continues on to January 1, 2014, the start of new health insurance coverage for millions of Americans.

This is an historic time for those Americans who never had health insurance, who had to go without insurance after losing a job or becoming sick, or who had been turned down because of a pre-existing condition. Because of these new marketplaces established under the Affordable Care Act, millions of Americans will have new access to affordable health insurance coverage.

Over the last two years, we've worked closely with states to begin building their health insurance marketplaces, also known as Exchanges, so that families and small-business owners will be able to get accurate information to make apples-to-apples comparisons of private insurance plans.

That is why we are so excited about launching the newly rebuilt HealthCare.gov website, where you'll be able to buy insurance from qualified private health plans and check if you are eligible for financial assistance -- all in one place, with a single application. Many individuals and families will be eligible for a new kind of tax credit to help lower their premium costs. If your state is running its own Marketplace, HealthCare.gov will make sure you get to the right place.

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The Marketplace will offer much more than any health insurance website you've used before. Insurers will compete for your business on a level playing field, with no hidden costs or misleading fine print.

It's not too soon to check out HealthCare.gov for new information about the Marketplace and tips for things you can do now to prepare for enrollment. And, make sure to sign up for emails or text message updates, so you don't miss a thing when it's time to enroll.

There is still work to be done to make sure the insurance market works for families and small businesses. But, for millions of Americans, the time for having the affordable, quality health care coverage, security, and peace of mind they need and deserve is finally within sight.

A version of this article was originally posted on HealthCare.gov on January 16, 2013.]]> Giving Women Control Over Their Health Care tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1723664 2012-07-31T10:52:00-04:00 2012-09-30T05:12:04-04:00 Sec. Kathleen Sebelius http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sec-kathleen-sebelius/ access to eight new services at no out-of-pocket cost to keep them healthier and to catch potentially serious conditions at an earlier, more treatable stage. This benefit will take effect for millions of adult and adolescent women over the course of the next year -- and it's just one of many benefits of the health care law that let women and their doctors, not insurance companies, make decisions about a woman's care.

When it comes to health, women are often the primary decision-maker for their families and the trusted source in circles of friends. Women often take care of their families first and put off their own health care needs. Too often, they have gone without preventive services, worrying about what even a $20 insurance co-pay would mean to their families' budgets and choosing to pay for groceries or rent instead.

But now, thanks to the health care law, many women won't have to make that choice.

Because of the Affordable Care Act, women in private plans and Medicare already have received potentially life-saving services, such as mammograms, cholesterol screenings and flu shots at no extra cost. Today, the law builds on these benefits, requiring new, non-grandfathered private health plans to offer eight additional screenings and tests for adolescent and adult women at no extra charge. These include:

  • Well-woman visits.

  • Gestational diabetes screenings that help protect the mother and her child from one of the most serious pregnancy-related diseases.

  • Domestic and interpersonal violence screening and counseling.

  • FDA-approved contraceptive products, which have proven health benefits like a reduced risk of cancer and protecting against osteoporosis.

  • Breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling.

  • HPV DNA testing, for women 30 or older.

  • Sexually transmitted infections counseling.

  • HIV screening and counseling.



According to a new report, about 47 million women are eligible for these new additional preventive services that address their unique health care needs. Instead of letting insurance companies decide what care women receive, the health care law requires insurers to cover these preventive services in new plans beginning Aug. 1. Because these changes take effect at the beginning of a new plan year, the requirement may go into effect later in the year. Ask your insurance company when the new benefits will take effect for you.

Women's health decisions shouldn't be made by politicians or insurance companies. Rather than wasting time refighting old political battles, this Administration is moving forward and putting women in control of their own health care. If women are going to take care of their families and friends, they have to take care of themselves. The Affordable Care Act is making it easier for women to do that by making health care more accessible and affordable for millions of American women and families.

To learn more about the health care services you are eligible for at no extra charge under the Affordable Care Act, go to http://www.healthcare.gov/prevention.

To see a video of what people are saying about preventive services click here.]]> The Affordable Care Act - Stronger Benefits to Seniors, Billions in Savings This Year tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1462694 2012-04-29T12:09:12-04:00 2012-06-29T05:12:01-04:00 Sec. Kathleen Sebelius http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sec-kathleen-sebelius/
Prior to 2011, people on Medicare faced paying for preventive benefits like cancer screenings and cholesterol checks out of their own pockets. Now, these benefits are offered free of charge to beneficiaries.

Over time, the health reform law also closes the gap in prescription drug coverage, known as the "donut hole." This helps seniors like Helen Rayon: "I am a grandmother who is trying to assist a grandson with his education. I take seven different medications. Getting the donut hole closed, that gives me a little more money in my pocket."

In 2010, those who hit the donut hole received a $250 rebate - with almost 4 million seniors and people with disabilities receiving a collective $1 billion. In 2011, people on Medicare automatically received a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs in the donut hole. Over 3.6 million beneficiaries received more than $2.1 billion in savings - averaging $604 per person last year.

And today, we have more good news. Even more seniors and people with disabilities on Medicare have benefited from these important measures:

  • In 2010 and 2011, over 5.1 million people on Medicare saved over3.4 billion on prescription drugs in the donut hole. In the first three months of 2012 alone, more than 220,000 people have saved184.5 million - an average of 837 a person so far this year.


  • In the first three months of 2012, 8.9 million beneficiaries on traditional Medicare received at least one free preventive service. This includes over 560,000 who have taken advantage of the Annual Wellness Visit - a new benefit that allows patients to meet with their doctors once a year to develop and update a personalized prevention plan. In 2011, over 32.5 million beneficiaries in traditional Medicare received one or more preventive benefit free of charge.


These new benefits will strengthen over time. In the coming years, the automatic discount on drugs in the donut hole will expand, and by 2020 the donut hole will be closed completely. And Medicare is growing stronger in other ways as well. Doctors and hospitals are beginning to receive new incentives to provide better care to patients, reducing infections that patients receive in the hospital, improving patient safety and lowering costs. The new law also invests more resources in fighting Medicare fraud, to protect the trust fund, and keep Medicare secure for longer.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, seniors and people with disabilities are enjoying a Medicare program that is stronger and working better for Helen, and others all across the country.

For more by Sec. Kathleen Sebelius, click here.

For more on health care, click here. ]]> Health Equity Can't Wait tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1420650 2012-04-12T10:51:56-04:00 2012-06-12T05:12:01-04:00 Sec. Kathleen Sebelius http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sec-kathleen-sebelius/
Despite the progress that we as a nation have made over the past 50 years, racial and ethnic minorities still lag behind their non-Hispanic white counterparts on many health fronts: Minorities are less likely to get the preventive care they need to stay healthy, more likely to suffer from chronic diseases such as diabetes, colon cancer, asthma, and heart disease, and they are less likely to have access to affordable, quality health care.

The Affordable Care Act, along with the Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities and the National Stakeholder Strategy for Achieving Health Equity that HHS released one year ago, are helping fight these disparities.

Lack of insurance is a significant driver of health care disparities. More than 1.2 million Latinos, Blacks, Asian Americans and American Indian/Alaska Natives have gained coverage because the new health care law allows millions of young adults to stay on their parents' plans until age 26.

In 2014, new Affordable Insurance Exchanges will make it possible for families, individuals, and small business owners to shop for private health insurance in a new competitive marketplace in their state. And new data suggest that 5.4 million Latinos and 3.8 million African Americans who would otherwise be uninsured will gain coverage by 2016. The health care law also strengthens Medicare for our seniors with many free preventive services, including a free annual wellness visit with their doctor, a 50 percent discount on brand name medications for those in the prescription drug "donut hole," and strong anti-fraud measures. These provisions help ensure our seniors get the care and medicines they need.

We are also focused on preventing diseases before they start. The new health law requires most health insurance plans to cover prevention and wellness benefits with no cost-sharing. These services include well-child visits, blood pressure screenings, pap smears and mammograms for women and flu shots for both children and adults.

Pap smears, for example, are particularly important for Latina women, who contract cervical cancer at twice the rate of their non-Hispanic White counterparts, and mammograms are particularly important for African American women, who are less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer but are more likely to die from it. In both cases, preventive care can stop these diseases before they become life-threatening.

Finally, we are working to expand access to care in communities nationwide. In addition to supporting community health centers nationwide, under the Action Plan's goal to reduce disparities in access to primary care services, we awarded $28.8 million last August to 67 community health centers, which serve uninsured and underinsured people, to expand and establish new sites, to care for 286,000 additional patients.

To learn more about National Minority Health Month and what the Department of Health and Human Services is doing to reduce minority health disparities and achieve health equity, see http://www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov/Actnow/.

To learn more about the law, go to www.healthcare.gov.

For more by Sec. Kathleen Sebelius, click here.

For more on health care, click here. ]]> Women's Health Care is Stronger Thanks to the Health Care Law tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1366886 2012-03-20T10:24:30-04:00 2012-05-20T05:12:01-04:00 Sec. Kathleen Sebelius http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sec-kathleen-sebelius/
In the past, this also meant that many women would take care of their own health last. By the time they got around to it, women found a system stacked against them. But thanks to the health care law, that's changed. Two years ago this week, President Obama signed into law the Affordable Care Act.

Here are a few ways the law is already helping women.

  1. Because of the new law, 45.1 million women -- including more than 20 million women with private health insurance and nearly 25 million women with Medicare -- can receive recommended preventive services with no cost-sharing. This includes services from Pap smears to flu shots to an annual well-woman visit, where you get to actually sit down and talk with your doctor. Over the years, too many women have gone without potentially life-saving cancer screenings like mammograms due to expensive co pays. That was bad for women, and it was bad for everyone since treating health problems caught early is much more effective and less expensive than treating those caught later. Now, women are getting the care they need to stay healthy.


  2. The law prohibits insurers from charging women more just because they're women starting in 2014. Women have sometimes been charged as much as 50 percent more for premiums, and according to a new report from the National Women's Law Center, the practice of charging women more for the same coverage costs women in the individual market approximately $1 billion a year. But, under the health care law, this will be illegal. In other words: Being a woman will no longer be considered a pre-existing condition!


  3. The law is ending discrimination against preexisting conditions. Insurers are already prohibited from denying coverage to children because they have a preexisting condition, like asthma or diabetes. And beginning in 2014, all women will be protected from being locked out of the market because of a "preexisting condition" such as being a breast cancer survivor, or having given birth by C-section, or being a victim of domestic violence.

    That's good news for all women. In the past, too many women didn't have the freedom to make important decisions about things like changing jobs, starting a new company, even leaving a bad marriage, without worrying about their health coverage. Now, we're taking those choices back from the insurance companies and returning them to women, where they belong.


  4. The law is also making a difference for older women by putting Medicare on surer footing. Under the law today, if you're in the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap known as the donut hole, you will receive a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs automatically when you fill your prescription -- and you don't have to do anything to get it. In 2010 and 2011 more than 5.1 million seniors and people with disabilities on Medicare have saved more than 3.1 billion on prescription drugs thanks to the new law. Going forward, the donut hole will get smaller each year, as the discounts continue and your Part D plan starts to cover more costs. And by 2020, the donut hole will be closed.


Over the last two years, women have begun to see the better health, better care, and lower costs that everyone deserves. And over the next two years, women will continue to see stronger benefits and protections for them and their families.

You can also learn about what the law means for everyday people by visiting Healthcare.gov/mycare - where we're featuring videos from Americans across the country who have been helped by the law. ]]>