Emily Vardell - The Medical Library Association Guide to Answering Questions about the Affordable Care Act

Medical Library Association Books Panel

• Barbara Gushrowski, chair

• Lauren M. Young, AHIP, chair designate

• Michel C. Atlas

• Dorothy C. May

• Karen McElfresh

• Megan Curran Rosenbloom

• Tracy Shields

• Kristen L. Young, AHIP

• Heidi Heilemann, AHIP, board liaison

About the Medical Library Association

Founded in 1898, MLA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, educational organization of 4,000 individual and institutional members in the health sciences information field that provides lifelong educational opportunities, supports a knowledgebase of health information research, and works with a global network of partners to promote the importance of quality information for improved health to the health care community and the public.

Books in Series

The Medical Library Association Guide to Providing Consumer and Patient Health Information, edited by Michele Spatz

Health Sciences Librarianship, edited by M. Sandra Wood

Curriculum-Based Library Instruction: From Cultivating Faculty Relationships to Assessment, edited by Amy Blevins and Megan Inman

Mobile Technologies for Every Library, by Ann Whitney Gleason

The Medical Library Association Guide to Answering Questions about the Affordable Care Act, edited by Emily Vardell

Edited by Emily Vardell

ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD

Lanham Boulder New York London

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

The Medical Library Association guide to answering questions about the Affordable Care Act / edited by Emily Vardell.

p. cm. (Medical Library Association books)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-4422-5536-4 (hardcover : alk. paper) ISBN 978-1-4422-5537-1 (pbk. : alk. paper) ISBN 978-1-4422-5538-8 (ebook)

I. Vardell, Emily, 1983 , editor. II. Medical Library Association, issuing body. III. Title: Guide to answering questions about the Affordable Care Act. IV. Series: Medical Library Association books.

[DNLM: 1. United States. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. 2. Insurance, HealthUnited States. 3. Legislation as TopicUnited States. 4. Libraries, MedicalUnited States. 5. Library ServicesUnited States. W 275 AA1]

RA412.2

368.38200973dc23

2015021293

TM The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.

Printed in the United States of America

To all the information professionals providing
quality health insurance information on the front lines

Following the passage and implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), librarians are more frequently called upon to provide assistance with navigating the health insurance marketplace and understanding health insurance terminology and forms. Libraries offer an ideal context for health insurance information seeking, as librarians have traditionally assisted with completing public assistance forms and are well trained in ascertaining and meeting information needs. President Barack Obama recognized this national resource when he requested help from librarians in assisting the public with this new phase of health insurance in the United States during his call to action at the 2013 American Library Association Conference.

The Medical Library Association Guide to Answering Questions about the Affordable Care Act is designed to serve as a practical guide for librarians seeking to learn more about the ACA; locate authoritative, nonbiased information regarding the ACA; and serve patrons searching for ACA information for personal or research purposes. While the book focuses specifically on the unique role that health sciences librarians play in serving the general public as well as health care providers, biomedical researchers, and health sciences students, the book also contains guidance relevant to any information professional working with ACA information.

Tailored for a librarian audience, the book begins with a general introduction to the Affordable Care Act, highlighting the aspects of the ACA legislation most pertinent to librarians. In chapter 1 Francisca Goldsmith traces a brief history of health care reform in the United States, setting the stage for the passage and politics of the ACA. The chapter also pulls out specific aspects of the ACA that may not be as familiar with readers, including the impact on Medicare beneficiaries, the increased emphasis on preventative care, and the consequences for health care information systems.

In chapter 2 Margot Malachowski builds on this foundation by focusing on the role of the librarian in relation to ACA implementation. This chapter is of relevance to librarians working in many kinds of information settings. Specific settings discussed in depth include hospital information management, academic assignments and research (supported by LibGuides and other information portals), and formal instruction (to multiple audiences, from students to health care providers). Malachowski outlines specific opportunities for targeted efforts that address ACA information technology mandates as well as consumer information needs. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the role librarians can play in the public library setting, and the steps that all librarians can take to document the benefits they provide to their respective communities.

Chapter 3, the chapter I wrote on health insurance literacy, provides a foundation for those seeking to familiarize themselves with research on individuals understanding of health insurance concepts. The research presented in that chapter assists librarians in making evidence-based decisions regarding services and projects they may wish to undertake to address health insurance and ACA information needs. In an age of budget cuts and limited staffing, it is imperative that librarians review relevant research and allocate resources to initiatives that are supported by the most recent evidence.