The Curtain Rises on the Next Act: State Implications of the Supreme Court’s ACA Decision
When the Supreme Court rules on the Affordable Care Act, the curtain will rise on the next act of health reform implementation. On this webinar, we will discuss the ACA decision and begin to make sense of what it means for states.
Will the post-decision environment bring states closer together or farther apart? If the law is upheld in its entirety, do we expect state activity to change? If parts of the law are repealed, what does it mean for active and less active states? If the decision is unclear, how do we begin to make sense of it? If the entire law is struck down, where do states go next?
State officials from Maryland and Wisconsin will join NASHP’s Alan Weil and Sonya Schwartz to share their thoughts.
Slides
Moderator:
Julie Barnes, Director of Health Policy, Bipartisan Policy Center
Speakers:
Alan Weil, Executive Director, National Academy for State Health Policy
Sonya Schwartz, Program Director, National Academy for State Health Policy
Panelists:
Chuck Milligan, Deputy Secretary, Health Care Financing, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Dennis Smith, Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Health Service
Speakers:
Alan Weil, Executive Director, National Academy for State Health Policy
Sonya Schwartz, Program Director, National Academy for State Health Policy
Panelists:
Chuck Milligan, Deputy Secretary, Health Care Financing, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Dennis Smith, Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Health Service
For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
