The number of questions about how health-care reform will affect individuals we are receiving at St. John’s have gone up since the president signed the first health-care reform bill.

As I have pondered how best to provide information, I have become acutely aware that my well-intentioned comments may be seen as partisan. Understandably, I have strong feelings about this legislation, both as it will affect me and my family, but also how it will affect the hospital I lead.

I have researched options/resources I might share, and again found that many sources have a particular slant or bias.

So, instead of going into great detail about all the what-ifs and wherefores, I offer this brief summary of the bill recently passed legislation.

To start with, there are two main parts of the reconciliation bill – one that “fixes” parts of the reform package that already is law, and another that deals with student loans.

The reconciliation bill phases out over a 10-year period the coverage gap under the Medicare Part D drug program (the “donut hole”), it changes how Medicare Advantage plans are paid (the cuts to the Advantage plans account for a large portion of the projected savings), it refigures hospital market basket reductions, and moves up to 2014 the date reductions in disproportionate-share hospital payments start.

While short on details, the bill also hopes to reduce health-care fraud and abuse, especially within Medicare and Medicaid.

The reconciliation bill delays the implementation of a 40 percent excise tax on high-cost insurance plans until 2018, it adds a new Medicare tax on investment income (although, interestingly enough, the tax will not be used to fund the Medicare program), and it generally bars insurers from dropping coverage after a person becomes sick.

Again, in an effort to not take sides, I offer the following websites that provide a fairly good summary/perspective on many aspects of this issue. Enjoy!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/what-health-bill-means-for-you/

http://www.kff.org/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/26/AR2010032605598.html?hpid=topnews

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20000846-503544.html

http://cnmnewsnetwork.com/14364/new-healthcare-reform-bill-summary-2010-facts-and-timeline-of-health-care-reform-changes/

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/03/health_care_for_all_minus_23_m.html

http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Issues/Health-Care/2010/03/24/Wealthy-Get-Squeezed-in-Health-Care-Bill.aspx

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/27/health/27patient.html

http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Issues/Health-Care/2010/03/24/AP-US-Gap-In-Health-Care-Laws-Protection-For-Children.aspx

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jdP4IIagxz4TgkAaDI1TnTHoM-VAD9ENLQV80

http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Issues/Health-Care/2010/03/24/Docs-Say-Legislation-is-Road-to-Ruin.aspx

http://www.healthreform.gov/

(Bill Patten is chief executive officer at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital in Libby).