WASITRAC Organizes Community Health Forum on Affordable Care Act
Bellevue, WA (PRWEB) August 31, 2013 -- Organized by WASITRAC and with support from Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS), Washington State Commission on Asian and Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA), and the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA), the Community Forum on Affordable Care Act (ACA) will take place on September 25 at the Sheraton Hotel in Bellevue. The main goal of the Forum is to educate the wider community on the new opportunities to consumers afforded by the ACA and more importantly to connect them with information they need to be fully engaged in the benefits of the ACA.
Keeping in mind the growing diverse immigrant communities in the east-side this event is believed to be very helpful to all legal residents of the east-side irrespective of their current status of health care coverage. The purpose of this forum is to create awareness and clarity about the upcoming changes on Health Care coverage due to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Forum will have speakers will be from the Asian Counseling and Referral Service, Washington State Health Care Authority, Washington Health Exchange, the office of the Director, Public Health – Seattle & King County, Seattle Regional Administrative office of the CMS and few testimonials from the patients’ families.
It is important to note here that President Obama signed comprehensive health reform, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), into law in March 2010. The law makes preventive care—including family planning and related services—more accessible and affordable for millions of Americans. While some provisions of the law have already taken effect, many more provisions will be implemented in the coming years.
“We believe that this is important for the people to be aware of the changes which will take effect from January 1, 2014 and the process of this change would begin from October this year”, said Debadutta Dash, one of the organizers and Co-Chair of WASITRAC. “This event will also give an opportunity for the general public to interact with both the state and King county officials to clarify their concerns, doubts and issues related to health care coverage”, he added.
“The Asian Pacific Islander community stands to gain access to quality, affordable health care through the Affordable Care Act” said Sofia Aragon, the other organizer of the Forum and the President of the Washing State Nurses Association (WSNA). “We are pleased to support this meeting where community members are invited to learn about and participate in a discussion about how the Health Benefit Exchange, Medicaid Expansion, and other ACA efforts are being launched in Washington State”. She said.
The Forum will highlight growing concern among the growing international student community in the state for not being able to have full healthcare coverage even after paying for the medical insurance and a tuition fee three or four times more than in-state students. With state financing cut by more than half in the last several years, many universities increased admission to students overseas. States need more revenue to fund higher education and to an extent, they solve this by enrolling international students, but very often, these students are at the receiving end when insurance companies place a cap on their benefits particularly when they are diagnosed with diseases such as cancer.
Debadutta Dash, WASITRAC, http://www.NextFiftyIndia.org, +1 (206) 330-8512, [email protected]
Share this article