New Report Details Affordable Care Act Resources and Flexibility for States
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today released a new report showing that the Affordable Care Act provides states with significant flexibility and resources to improve health care benefits and protect consumers. Already, the law has provided or offered $2.8 billion in funding to states. This is a fraction of the total funding available under the law to help states implement new consumer protections, expand health coverage, and improve health care quality.?The Affordable Care Act is built on the foundation of providing states with the resources and flexibility they need to build a better, more affordable health care system,? said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. ?This report shows that states have what they need to continue putting comprehensive health insurance reforms in place.?
Prior to the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, the fractured health care system placed tremendous financial burdens on states. In 2008, for example, states spent $17.2 billion on uncompensated care due
