Health Insurance and Libraries: An Oregon Update

Nikki Dettmar, MSIS, Education and Assessment CoordinatorNational Network of Libraries of Medicine, Pacific Northwest Region

Introduction

• Nikki Dettmar– Medical Librarian– Specializing in online education– NN/LM, PNR– University of Washington– Serve 5 states:• Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington

Introduction

• One of eight regions

• Sponsored by the National Library of Medicine

• NLM is part of the National Institutes of Health

What Does the Affordable Care Act Do? Provides health care coverage to the uninsured Offers subsidies and/or tax credits to make premiums

affordable Allows families to keep adult children on existing policies

until age 26 Requires most people over the age of 18 to have coverage

by January 2014 Assesses a penalty of 1 percent of annual income or $95

on those not covered Penalty will increase to 2.5 percent or $695 by 2016

Some Major New Features Coverage includes pre-existing conditions Insurance cannot be canceled if you get sick Insurers must justify rate increases No lifetime limits on benefits

What can libraries do to help? Provide accurate information referrals, alert for scams

(look-alike websites, calls or emails claiming to be from agents) Create displays explaining the Affordable Care Act & health insurance Provide computers and scanners so patrons can apply for coverage Provide certified enrollment counselors at scheduled times Partner with local agencies: Cover Oregon Certified Agents and Community

Partners, hospitals, county health departments, insurance agencies, non-profits, community-based organization groups…

Featured highlights Coos Bay Public Library Washington County Cooperative Library Services

Resources and Tools Determining the library’s role Managing ACA information overload Efficient use of Federal marketplace site for information Other websites and resources Consumer education and promotional materials Summary conclusion

Determining the Library’s Role Do an inventory of resources – staff, computers, meeting

rooms and availability, time for training Decide types and levels of service Maintain neutrality; act as information providers, not

insurance experts or advisors Be knowledgeable about appropriate resources and

services Communicate with staff; ongoing communication

between management and staff is key

Managing ACA Information Overload

Help Me, Please!

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http://LocalHelp.HealthCare.Gov

Healthcare.gov

CuidadoDeSalud.gov

Healthcare.gov (continued)

marketplace.cms.gov

marketplace.cms.gov (continued)

Native American ACA Information

• NativeExchange.org (information, NOT marketplace)

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Patrons: State-Specific Information•What is the Marketplace in my state? (OR: Cover Oregon)

Search for other states using this tool to find individual state marketplace informationhealthcare.gov/what-is-the-marketplace-in-my-state/

•Is Medicaid expanding in my state? (Yes for Oregon)The health care law provides states the choice to expand Medicaid. Learn more about your state’s decision here:healthcare.gov/what-if-my-state-is-not-expanding-medicaid/

State Details Pacific Northwest Affordable Care Act information:

http://nnlm.gov/pnr/ACA.html

Training and Educational Opportunities

Webjunction webinars and blog CMS training schedule State town hall meetings Navigator programs for the state (contacts through

LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov) Watch for information session announcements from

local hospitals, clinics, and trusted providers of health information for ACA information specific to your community

MedlinePlus.gov•MedlinePlus.gov has an extensive collection of links on the Health Insurance Health Topic page.

•When talking with library users about health insurance and health topics, introduce them to MedlinePlus for quality health information of all kinds

Health Insurance Health Topic Page

Moving Target Expect that library services will evolve as deadlines come and

go and as needs change. Get informed and take advantage of trainings Sign up for updates from state site, healthcare.gov, and

MedlinePlus Sign up for email updates from Cover Oregon, WebJunction

and other organizations Watch for State listserv cross-posting from our Dragonfly blog

for summaries of ACA updates specific to the states in the Pacific Northwest Region (that’s Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington)

Thank you!

Nikki Dettmar 1-800-338-7657 nnlm@uw.edu