Health Care Blog

Find Out How Expanding Medicaid Will Help People in Your State:

Posted by David Hudson on July 2, 2014 at 6:47 PM EDT

Twenty-four states still haven't acted to make more struggling families eligible for Medicaid — including many of the states that would benefit most.

Here's why that's a problem: If these states don't opt to expand Medicaid, 5.7 million people won't have access to health insurance coverage in 2016.

Want to know exactly how Medicaid expansion will help millions of Americans? Check out our new resource center, featuring an interactive map that shows what expanding Medicaid would mean for people in each state — from access to affordable health insurance and preventive care, to new jobs created.

See how Medicaid expansion will help people across the country — and spread the word on Twitter and Facebook.

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In Case You Missed It: LGBT Pride at the White House

Posted by lholst on July 1, 2014 at 1:19 PM EDT

Yesterday, for the sixth time since taking office, President Obama joined national, state, and local community leaders, business leaders, grassroots activists, elected officials, and others for an event celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month at the White House.

With the First Lady by his side, the President spoke about the tremendous progress we have made during the course of his Administration -- from repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" to implementing the Affordable Care Act with important protections for LGBT people -- and restated his commitment to taking executive action on behalf of LGBT workers:

The majority of Fortune 500 companies already have nondiscrimination policies to protect their employees because it’s the right thing to do and because many say it helps to retain and attract the best talent. And I agree. So if Congress won’t act, I will. I have directed my staff to prepare an executive order for my signature that prohibits discrimination by federal contractors on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

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The Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby Decision

Posted by Lindsay Holst on June 30, 2014 at 7:05 PM EDT

Watch on YouTube

Today, the Supreme Court ruled on the much-publicized Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. case.

This decision would allow some bosses to withhold contraceptive care from their employees' health coverage based on their own religious beliefs -- which their employees may not share.

At the top of today's press briefing, Press Secretary Josh Earnest delivered a statement about where the President stands on this ruling, noting:

"President Obama believes that women should make personal health care decisions for themselves, rather than their bosses deciding for them."

He went on to state that "today's decision jeopardizes the health of women who are employed by these companies."

You can read a full transcript of the statement and press briefing here.

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Sylvia Mathews Burwell Sworn In as the New HHS Secretary

Posted by David Hudson on June 24, 2014 at 6:55 PM EDT

Vice President Joe Biden swears in Sylvia Mathews Burwell, as Secretary of Health and Human Services, with her husband Stephen holding the bible, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. June 24, 2014. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

This afternoon, the Vice President ceremonially swore in Sylvia Mathews Burwell as the new Secretary of Health and Human Services.

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Senate Confirms Sylvia Mathews Burwell as Secretary of Health and Human Services

Posted by dhudson on June 5, 2014 at 2:48 PM EDT

President Barack Obama, with Vice President Joe Biden, announces Sylvia Mathews Burwell as his nominee to succeed Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, in the Rose Garden of the White House, April 11, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Today, a bipartisan majority of Senators confirmed Sylvia Mathews Burwell as the new Secretary of Health and Human Services. In a statement released this afternoon, President Obama commended the group of Senators and reiterated his confidence in Burwell's leadership.

I applaud the strong, bipartisan majority of Senators who today confirmed Sylvia Mathews Burwell as America’s next Secretary of Health and Human Services. Sylvia is a proven manager who knows how to deliver results, and over her career she has built deep relationships with Democrats and Republicans alike. I’m confident Sylvia’s unparalleled experience will serve her well in her new role as she works to ensure the safety of our food and drug supply, protect our nation from outbreaks or bioterror attacks, keep America at the forefront of medical research, and make sure every American has access to quality, affordable healthcare.

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A Collective Focus on Behavioral Health in the AAPI Community

Posted by Juliet Bui on June 2, 2014 at 6:03 PM EDT

Federal and community experts convene at the AAPI Behavioral Health Forum, May 9, 2014. (by Darren Shim)

How do we begin to address behavioral health issues within Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities compounded with the need for cultural sensitivity and access to resources? This was the crux of a recent dialogue between community organizations and federal officials involved in advancing the behavioral health of the AAPI community.

During last month’s AAPI Behavioral Health Forum, a Vietnamese woman shared her story of cross-generational trauma, stemming from tragedies experienced during the Vietnam War; a third generation Japanese-American woman described her lack of a sense of belonging associated with her schizophrenia; another Japanese-American woman reflected on her family’s need to deny the cause of death when her cousin died by suicide. These stories were a sobering reminder of the challenges associated with the lived experiences of AAPI individuals, families, and communities with mental and/or substance use disorders.

Throughout the day, federal and community experts discussed current efforts to elevate AAPI behavioral health issues in communities across America and advance behavioral health equity. Forum participants assessed the questions, challenges, and opportunities for each of the four issue areas – data, integrated care, workforce development and community engagement. While exploring these issue areas, participants thought critically about possible next steps to build and strengthen efforts to improve AAPI behavioral health and serve the AAPI community in a culturally and linguistically competent manner.

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