| The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act | | | | Assistance Percentage (FMAP) Increase. FMAP |
| of 2009 has made many Americans hopeful | | | | funding will be increased over a 27 month period. |
| about a better economy sometime in the not so | | | | The increase began on October 1, 2008 and will |
| distant future. The American Recovery and | | | | remain in affect until December 31, 2010. All |
| Reinvestment Act will bring forth changes from | | | | states will receive an increase of 6.2%, as well as |
| providing additional tax credits for individuals and | | | | a decrease in their financial obligations for Medicaid. |
| businesses to instating economic recovery tools. | | | | By lowering the Medicaid obligations, states will be |
| One of the biggest questions is what will the act | | | | able to offer assistance to more families in need. |
| do to improve medical coverage and care in | | | | Health Information Technology |
| America. The American Recovery and | | | | The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act |
| Reinvestment Act will make provisions for health | | | | will promote the use of health information |
| insurance assistance, state fiscal relief and | | | | technology (health IT), such as electronic health |
| Medicaid and health information technology. | | | | records. The government will be responsible for |
| Health Insurance Assistance | | | | developing standards for electronic records by |
| Due to a failing economy, numerous people have | | | | 2010. These standards will allow a nationwide |
| faced layoffs which in turn caused a loss of | | | | exchange of health information. It will allow health |
| affordable health care coverage. The American | | | | providers to save time, money and space, as well |
| Recovery and Reinvestment Act will assist by | | | | as improve the quality of care that patients |
| issuing a bill that will provide a 65% subsidy for | | | | receive. Electronic record keeping will allow doctors |
| COBRA continuation premiums. This assistance will | | | | to access patient information any time, any |
| last for up to 9 months for those workers that | | | | where and from any location. This will ensure that |
| were involuntarily terminated. On average, | | | | no information is misplaced or overlooked. Doctors |
| COBRA premiums run $1000.00 per month, so a | | | | will be able to view a patient's medical history, |
| 65% subsidy would allow terminated workers to | | | | allergies, family history, etc. with the click of a |
| still afford medical care for their families. To | | | | button. There will be no need for cumbersome |
| qualify for assistance, workers must be | | | | filing systems which take up needed office space. |
| terminated between September 1, 2008 - | | | | Records will be easily searchable, saving nurses |
| December 31, 2009 and their yearly income | | | | and aides valuable time that could be better spent |
| cannot exceed $125,000 (individual) or $250,000 | | | | assisting patients. The Government standards will |
| (family). If an offer of employment is accepted | | | | uphold current regulations to make sure patient |
| and benefits are available. COBRA assistance will | | | | medical records are held in the strictest of |
| terminate. | | | | confidence. |
| State Fiscal Relief & Medicaid | | | | With all the changes the American Recovery and |
| The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act | | | | Reinvestment Act promises to bring, hopefully we |
| will provide many changes to state fiscal relief and | | | | can expect a brighter future. |
| Medicaid, including a temporary Federal Medical | | | | |