Federal Health Reform Collaboration Site  

NCSL has created a members-only online collaboration page to provide easy and instant communication among state legislators and legislative staff involved in health reform implementation.  Members must log in with their NCSLnet username and password to access the Health Reform Collaboration site.  If you do not have a user name/password, create an account online.  Forgot your password? 

 The Collaborative Network page includes -

• Document Libraries: Federal and State
• Resources & Calendar
• Forum - an online discussion site 

Click here to use the Federal Health Reform Collaborative Network 

NCSL hopes this web page will become one of your central resources for health reform information.

 Background

In March of 2010 President Obama signed into law two pieces of legislation that laid the foundation for a multi-year effort to implement health reform in the United States.  The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) (H.R. 3590), and the Reconciliation Act of 2010 (H.R.4872) crafted new structural models to increase access and affordability of coverage, to improve operational governance of the health insurance industry, provide consumers protection, and new tools for the improvement of the health care delivery system and patient outcomes.

Federal Guidance and Feedback -- As the implementation of health reform in the states moves forward, information on federal actions and directives will be a vital tool for state legislatures in complying with these changes.  This web page will be used not only to provide up to date information and educational opportunities to the NCSL members, but as a forum for the members to provide feedback on the course of actions and comments NCSL will take to our federal partners as the implementation progresses.

State Initiatives and Options -- With many health reform provisions based on existing state laws and programs, state legislators have a number of choices, for example, to initiate or authorize state-run programs and to seek optional federal grants for pilot, start-up or statewide programs.  Some legislators are seeking ways to opt-out or decline to participate in certain provisions.  Legislators and legislative staff can use the state resources on this member-only site to examine examples of state actions and consult about what may work best for each individual state.

NCSL Task Force on Federal Health Reform Implementation -- In 2010 NCSL President Senator Richard Moore of Massachusetts established a special task force to provide guidance and a forum for discussion and action.  The group held its first meeting December 2010 in Phoenix.  Three meetings were held during 2011 with two more in 2012; the next meeting is in Denver, Saturday, May 4, 2013.

NCSL Contacts: Joy Johnson Wilson, Federal Affairs Counsel, Health Policy Director at joy.wilson@ncsl.org, Dick Cauchi, Program Director at dick.cauchi@ncsl.org, and Rachel B. Morgan RN, BSN, Health Committee Director at rachel.morgan@ncsl.org. 

Create Account or Retrieve Password

Create an NCSLnet Username/Password Account, https://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?TabId=12402. This link can also be accessed from the NCSL Home Page in the upper right corner of the page.

Forgot Your Password?
You can retrieve your NCSLnet password by using this link: http://www.ncsl.org/Home/tabid/118/ctl/SendPassword/Default.aspx. This link can also be accessed from the NCSL Home Page by clicking on the Login button in the upper right corner of the page.

Need Login Assistance?  Contact NCSLnet-Registration@ncsl.org or call 303 856-1450.