The Affordable Care Act: Overview and Implications for County and City Behavioral Health and Intellectual/Developmental Disability Programs

Abstract

The author begins by reviewing the 5 key intended actions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)-insurance reform, coverage reform, quality reform, performance reform, and information technology reform. This framework provides a basis for examining how populations served and service programs will change at the county and city levels as a result of the ACA, and how provider staff also will change over time as a result of these developments. The author concludes by outlining immediate next steps for county and city programs. © 2014 Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.