The Healthcare Reform Implementation Task Force is set to launch a series of forums and meetings with community groups that will inform Virgin Islands policymakers as they implement provisions of the Affordable Care Act. The effort will focus on educating the community about the federal healthcare law, and identifying specific challenges in accessing services or health insurance throughout the territory. 

Engaging the community is a critical next step in advancing healthcare reform, said Lieutenant Governor Francis, who in his capacity as Chairman of the Task Force has also directed Task Force members to meet with their employees and clients to learn of their concerns in delivering or accessing territorial services. “Every idea matters,” stated the Lieutenant Governor, at the task force meeting held on Tuesday at Government House on St. Croix. “It’s important that we find out what the community needs, so that we can make the best use of our healthcare related resources.”

In the coming weeks, representatives of the Task Force will make a targeted effort to reach many of the territory’s sub-populations to include the homeless, senior citizens, the French Creole and Spanish speaking communities, low income families and residents ages 18 to 24. The Task Force hopes to gather information regarding access to healthcare services, health insurance concerns and ways to improve the territory’s healthcare services. The group also plans to meet with small business owners and representatives of the insurance and medical community.

The information to be gathered at the outreach meetings is expected to assist the Task Force in its efforts to implement the provisions of the Affordable Care Act. Key goals of healthcare reform include the expansion of health insurance coverage to the uninsured and improving the standard and quality of healthcare available to Virgin Islanders. The outreach meetings constitute one of the key deliverables of the Health Insurance Exchange Planning Grant. Stakeholder Consultation is one of the eleven Exchange Establishment Core Areas and offers an opportunity for community input in Exchange design, approach, operational issues and development of legislative options.

During the meeting, Task Force Coordinator Taetia Phillips-Dorsett updated the group on changes made to the Affordable Care Act which could potentially impact residents. Recently, planned provisions for nursing and long term care programs have been suspended, while preventative care coverage has been expanded. 

Mrs. Phillips-Dorsett reminded the group that the process of implementing the Affordable Care Act on a national level remains fluid and therefore some provisions are subject to change. 

Human Services Commissioner Christopher Finch expressed his disappointment that the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Program was suspended. This program consisted of voluntary payments to support long term care services and was deemed too costly to implement by the US Department of Health and Human Services, but noted that the territory can explore more technology based resources to keep elderly residents in their homes. 

The Task Force also received updates on the Medicaid claims payment process and the forthcoming availability of additional consumer assistance for health insurance complaints through the Division of Banking and Insurance.

The next meeting of the Task Force will be on December 21, 2011 at Government House on St. Thomas.