Facts & Resources

To commemorate the one year anniversary of the passage of health reform legislation, Consumers Union developed a guide entitled The Affordable Care Act: The First Year. The guide outlines what the law means for consumers based on their current health insurance coverage, as well as details how the law pertains to owners and employees of small businesses.

Consumer Reports has developed a brief guide, Medicare: 6 Things You Need to Know Now, to educate consumers on how the Affordable Care Act has affected Medicare and benefits. The guide covers topics ranging from drug discounts to free preventive services.

The USDA introduced Choose My Plate to replace the food pyramid, and promote food recommendations in line with the revised nutrition guidelines. The plate-shaped icon displays the portion of the recommended food groups, with vegetables and fruits accounting for half of the dish, while grains and proteins make up the other half. With portion size clearly delineated, the USDA is promoting health eating habits and wellness, a necessary step in reducing long-term health care expenditures.

As part of its Solutions Initiative, the Peter G. Peterson Foundation compiled a document proposing a variety of solutions for America’s long-term fiscal challenges. The document contains plans which include changes in Medicare and Medicaid, the addition of a public insurance option and repealing the entire health law. These plans were developed by the American Enterprise Institute, the Bipartisan Policy Center, the Center for the American Progress, the Economic Policy Institute, the Heritage Foundation and the Roosevelt Institute.