Talking Affordable Care Act

Monday night, a panel discussion called the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: What Does It All Mean?” took place at McCoy Hall. It was an event opened to the public for a better understanding of what the affordable care act does to citizens. Professor of the College of Health Professions Michael Nowicki says people look at the act economically but that we also need to look at what the act does on quality.

The affordable care act also addresses quality. Most people think quality of health care is about the same no matter what hospital or doctor you go to and the research indicates that qualities varies a great deal between hospitals and doctors,” said Professor Nowicki.

“So the affordable care act provides mechanisms to identify the poorly performing doctors and hospitals and try to get them better performing.”
– Professor Michael Nowicki

Panelist included Mary Ann Roser from the Austin American-Statesman, CIO for Seton Southwest Hospital, Mary Faria, and Executive Vice President of Clinical Systems at Seton Healthcare Gregory Sheff. Those who attended were able to ask questions that would relate their personal experience.

Isamar Terrazas, KTSW News.