MONROE - Congress passed a final version of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul bill March 21 and the President signed the bill into law Tuesday. But local county health departments and medical care providers say it is still too early to know what changes to expect.
"It's difficult to see how its going to affect us," said Mike Sanders, President and CEO of Monroe Clinic in Monroe.
"Thirty-nine million people will get coverage, and that's a good thing for our county. But as for the mechanics, we'll have to see how it shakes out."
Neither Debbie Siegenthaler, director of the Lafayette County Health Department, nor Jeannie Blumer, director of the Green County Health Department, know yet what changes will be coming, nor when changes will come.
From a public health perspective, Siegenthaler sees in the bill more money being dedicated for preventative programs.
"That's good for us. Prevention is historically a hard sell, and there aren't a lot of grants for it," she said.
Siegenthaler said money and directives will come down from the federal government to the states or to organizations such as the Center for Disease Control, and then to states, before local county health departments will get involved with the process.
"The (coverage) provision for people currently uninsured is better, but there is nothing specific yet," she added.
Sanders said Monroe Clinic will not be making any immediate changes and will be monitoring the situation for a while, but has been working hard to prepare for some of the expected changes.
As four or five pieces of legislation on insurance coverage come into play, some covering patients with pre-existing conditions, Sanders expects the clinics and hospitals will see more patients, especially in rural areas.
"We expect the increase in access will create a challenge in demand for services," he said.
Sanders questions whether some areas of the county will have the resources available for those who will get better access to quality health care.
He believes Monroe Clinic will be ready for the additional clientele, with quality service, electronic medical records and more physicians, nurses and staff.
Although Sanders said he has seen "numbers that are all over the map," his preliminary projection is that the resources and funding will ultimately balance out.
The amount that will be paid by Medicare will go down, but more people will have coverage, he said.
"It's like the original Medicare plan - that was tweaked and analyzed and adjusted ever since then. The Medicare plan we have (now) is not the same as it was when it was started," he said.
Sanders said Monroe Clinic and its hospital will maintain the same philosophy it started with in the 1930s, when it was built to serve, caring for those in need regardless of their ability to pay.
"It's difficult to see how its going to affect us," said Mike Sanders, President and CEO of Monroe Clinic in Monroe.
"Thirty-nine million people will get coverage, and that's a good thing for our county. But as for the mechanics, we'll have to see how it shakes out."
Neither Debbie Siegenthaler, director of the Lafayette County Health Department, nor Jeannie Blumer, director of the Green County Health Department, know yet what changes will be coming, nor when changes will come.
From a public health perspective, Siegenthaler sees in the bill more money being dedicated for preventative programs.
"That's good for us. Prevention is historically a hard sell, and there aren't a lot of grants for it," she said.
Siegenthaler said money and directives will come down from the federal government to the states or to organizations such as the Center for Disease Control, and then to states, before local county health departments will get involved with the process.
"The (coverage) provision for people currently uninsured is better, but there is nothing specific yet," she added.
Sanders said Monroe Clinic will not be making any immediate changes and will be monitoring the situation for a while, but has been working hard to prepare for some of the expected changes.
As four or five pieces of legislation on insurance coverage come into play, some covering patients with pre-existing conditions, Sanders expects the clinics and hospitals will see more patients, especially in rural areas.
"We expect the increase in access will create a challenge in demand for services," he said.
Sanders questions whether some areas of the county will have the resources available for those who will get better access to quality health care.
He believes Monroe Clinic will be ready for the additional clientele, with quality service, electronic medical records and more physicians, nurses and staff.
Although Sanders said he has seen "numbers that are all over the map," his preliminary projection is that the resources and funding will ultimately balance out.
The amount that will be paid by Medicare will go down, but more people will have coverage, he said.
"It's like the original Medicare plan - that was tweaked and analyzed and adjusted ever since then. The Medicare plan we have (now) is not the same as it was when it was started," he said.
Sanders said Monroe Clinic and its hospital will maintain the same philosophy it started with in the 1930s, when it was built to serve, caring for those in need regardless of their ability to pay.