March 2012 Issue

Across the country, the implementation of the Affordable Care Act is moving forward. An innovative collaboration between a number of foundations, the Affordable Care Act Implementation Fund offers resources and technical assistance to state and local advocates to ensure effective and consumer-focused implementation of the health care reform law.

Anna is a 65 year old woman with multiple sclerosis that led to paralysis in both legs, and this condition has been compounded by asthma and severe depression. Throughout her life she has lacked consistent primary care and has been bounced around from one doctor to the next. But major change is on the way for nine million of the most vulnerable Americans like Anna -- the so-called "dual eligibles" whose care is divided between the Medicaid and Medicare programs. 

With medical debt on the rise, how can non-profit hospitals partner with communities to address this issue? In January, Community Catalyst brought together state consumer advocates, hospital representatives and legislative staffers for a Congressional briefing to address that question.

Roughly 83 million Americans face barriers to dental care, a key component in maintaining oral health. For more than 50 million children and adults, one of the biggest barriers to dental care is living in areas without enough dentists. Oral health is essential to overall health, with poor oral health being linked to heart disease, clogged arteries, stroke and other serious health problems. Without proper dental care, small issues can turn into much larger problems.