• First Notice of Coverage Termination to Effected RIteCare Parents – November 15, 2013 – Parents with income between 138-175% FPL currently receiving health coverage through RIte Care received an initial notice that their eligibility would be redetermined.
• Parents Losing RIte Care and RIte Share Eligibility December 31, 2013, Process Chart by EOHHS – outlines upcoming dates important for service providers and parents regarding upcoming transitions for effected populations.
• 2014 Health Insurance Options for Uninsured Rhode Islanders – October 2013 – Learn more about what affordable health coverage options are available to individuals and families in Rhode Island.
• What’s Next for RIte Care? – October 2013 – Learn more about the changes happening in Medicaid in Rhode Island over the next three months and post January 1, 2014.
• Countdown to Coverage 2014: Rhode Island’s Options for Affordable Health Coverage – September 2013 – See examples of how Rhode Islanders will benefit from new health coverage options beginning January 1, 2014 as well as information about Medicaid, HealthSource RI, tax credits, enrollment information and more. Available in Spanish.
• Essential Health Benefits: Rhode Island’s Choice Under the Affordable Care Act – December 2012 – Read about the Essential Health Benefits (EHBs) that Rhode Island chose to include in its “benchmark” plan required under the Affordable Care Act.
• Principles for Consumer-Focused Navigators and Navigator Entities – October 2012 – The RI Health Coverage Project and it’s leadership team recommend the following guiding principles to ensure a program with consumer-focused navigators and navigator entities.
• Consumer Support System and the Health Insurance Exchange – May 2012 – This fact sheet provides an overview of the consumer support system and how the “Navigator” program will provide one-on-one assistance to consumers.
• Rhode Island Health Coverage Project Overview – April 2012 – Rhode Island is working hard to create new health insurance choices. The Rhode Island Health Coverage Project ensures that consumers have a voice in the process.  Available in Spanish
• What are the Pathways to Health Insurance Coverage in 2014?  – May 7, 2012 – The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is designed to improve health care by reducing the number of uninsured Americans. Beginning in 2014, most Rhode Islanders will have health insurance coverage through one of the following ways: 1) Coverage through their employer 2) through the Exchange 3) through Medicaid or 4) through the Basic Health Program.    Also available in Spanish and Portuguese.
• Who is the Affordable Health Care Act Helping in Rhode Island? – February 07, 2012 – Health care reform legislation, called the Affordable Care Act (ACA), was passed by Congress in 2010. Many Rhode Islanders and Americans are already benefiting from parts of the law that have already gone into effect. Who is the Affordable Care Act helping in Rhode Island? Read the issue brief to find out.  Available in Spanish and Portuguese.
• The Basic Health Program: Providing Affordable Coverage for Rhode Islanders – February 10, 2012 – A key goal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) is to allow more Americans to have health coverage by providing affordable health insurance. Under the new law, Rhode Islanders will be covered through several ways, including the Basic Health Program. This issue brief will explain the Basic Health Program, and how this option will help Rhode Island families.

• Flyer to Help 2,000 Uninsured Parents Get Coverage (February 21, 2014)  Flyer in Spanish
• Updated Password Letter and Updated Username Letter (January 16, 2014)
• Parents Who Lost RIte Care Coverage: Deadline for February Coverage Approaches (January 21st alert)
• Application for State Premium Assistance Program for Parents Who Lost Coverage
• Letter on Next Steps, and Follow-up Letter with Password received by RIte Care and RIte Share Parents around January 2, 2014
• Letter, Fact Sheet, and Opt-out Form mailed to RIte Care and RIte Share Parents December 6, 2013
• Update for RIte Care Parents Who Lost Coverage (Jan 7, 2014)
• First Notice of Coverage Termination to Effected RIteCare Parents
• Policy Memo: More Time is Needed to Transition Parents from RIte Care to HealthSource RI

Countdown to Coverage: Health Care Reform in Rhode Island – A presentation about changes in access to RIte Care and Medicaid coverage and new opportunities for affordable private insurance through the Exchange as well as how people can access health care now.

Rhode Island Health Benefits Exchange: Communications Discussion – A presentation from Megan Hall of the Exchange giving an update on the Exchange’s progress and the outreach and education plan.

Letter to the Community – a letter from the Exchange requesting those agencies interested in helping with outreach and enrollment to fill out the contact form and return it to the Exchange.

Exchange Fact Sheet – for individuals and small businesses.

Contact Form – for those who would like to receive e-mails from specific organizations.

Family Resource Counselors List – contact information for family resource counselors in Rhode Island.

RIte Care order form – for those who would like more of the RIte Care materials provided at the workshop.

Who is the ACA Helping?

About The Rhode Island Health Coverage Project

• More About Medicaid PowerPoint Presentation – November 2013 – For those currently enrolled in Medicaid, this presentation is an overview of what coverage changes you and your family may encounter under the Affordable Care Act.
• A Celebration of Children’s Health PowerPoint Presentation – November 2013 – This presentation explores how RIte Care works for children & families in Rhode Island and what they can expect under ACA in 2014.
• 2013 Workshop: Countdown to Coverage: Health Reform in Rhode Island – May 2013- This presentation covers the changes to accessing RIte Care and Medicaid and new opportunities for affordable private insurance through the Exchange as well as ways people can access health care now.
• Health Reform in Rhode Island: Countdown to Coverage – December 2012 – View a presentation from recent forums that describes how the Affordable Care Act is helping Rhode Islanders and the changes that will go into effect in January 2014 .
• Countdown to Coverage Presentation – May 2012 – This presentation provides basic information about the Affordable Care Act, assistance available to consumers, and how people can access health care and health coverage now.

• Health Reform: Seven Things You Need to Know to be Ready: This publication from Consumer Reports provides an overview of the changes and new options that consumers and those shopping for coverage can expect in 2014.
• Health Reform: Seven Things You Need to Know Now: This Consumer Reports publication is your guide to understanding the law (Affordable Care Act). They cannot cover every possible situation or detail, but highlight the major changes that consumers need to know about to take advantage of the full benefits of health reform come January 1, 2014. (This publication is also available in Spanish.)
• Designing the essential health benefits for your state:  An advocates guide:  Consumer advocates have a great opportunity to involve themselves as their states choose their benchmark plans and define their essential health benefits packages. This resource includes an overview of the requirements that a state’s essential health benefits package will need to meet and outlines the process for defining these benefits using a benchmark plan. It also provides steps advocates can take to engage in the benchmark plan selection process and to advocate for a comprehensive essential health benefits package in their state.
• Health Reform Hits Main Street: Confused about how the new health reform law really works? This short, animated movie explains the problems with the current health care system, the changes that are happening now, and the big changes coming in 2014. (video from Kaiser Family Foundation, also available in Spanish.)
• Implementation Timeline: The implementation timeline is an interactive tool designed to explain how and when the provisions of the health reform law will be implemented over the next several years. (from the Kaiser Family Foundation)
• What Will Health Care Do for You?: An interactive grid that lets you choose your health insurance status to find out what health care will do for you. (from Health Care for America Now)

Health Care Reform Background

Congress passed The Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010 and the U.S. Supreme Court upheld most of the law in 2012.  The ACA was created so that nearly all Americans would have access to affordable health insurance through commercial or public coverage, health care costs would be controlled, and the health care delivery system would be improved.The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has primary responsibility for guiding implementation of the ACA and providing information to consumers and others. On January 13, 2011, Governor Lincoln Chafee signed an Executive Order creating the RI Health Care Reform Commission, chaired by Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts, to oversee all aspects of ACA implementation.  On September 19, 2011, the Governor signed another Executive Order creating the RI Health Benefits Exchange, responsible for developing the Exchange website where people will be able to compare health insurance plans, purchase insurance and apply for Medicaid or subsidies to help pay for private coverage.  Small business will also be able to purchase coverage through the Exchange.

Frequently Asked Questions about Health Reform – An extensive list of FAQs and educated answers provided by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Zooming in on Health Reform– understanding the potential impact of the ACA on Medicaid and the uninsured at the local level

HealthRIght -has a mission to enact health care reform that ensures high-quality, accessible, sustainable and affordable health care and healthier lives for all Rhode Islanders.

Community Catalyst – works with advocates across the country to make sure consumers have a role in transforming health care in their communities.

Kaiser Family Foundation – provides in-depth information on key health policy issues.

Families USA – nonprofit advocacy organization that offers resources on finding, choosing, and using health coverage.

Georgetown University Center for Children and Families – an independent, nonpartisan policy and research center with a mission to expand and improve health coverage for America’s children and families.

• Center for Southeast Asians
• City of Providence, Health Communities Office
• Community Action Partnership of Providence
• The Economic Progress Institute (Project Lead)
• East Bay Community Action
• The Genesis Center
• HealthRIght
• Parent Support Network
•  Rhode Island Free Clinic
• Rhode Island Health Center Association
•  Rhode Island KIDS COUNT (Project Lead)
•   Rhode Island Parent Information Network
•  Rhode Island State Council of Churches