(Businesswire)–The California Endowment announced a major statewide health consumer education effort to raise awareness of the facts of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signed into law in March 2010.
In spite of several key provisions already in effect and new provisions becoming effective this month, public opinion data shows that very few Californians understand the law or how it will affect them and their families. In response, The California Endowment and its partners are undertaking the largest public education effort in the state to educate Californians about the benefits of the law. Targeted groups for the initial phase of the education effort include Latinos, the business community and young adults under the age of 26.
“This new landmark law will provide Californians more options and real benefits. We want to help people understand these new opportunities and take full advantage of them,” said Dr. Robert Ross, President and CEO of The California Endowment. “Successful implementation of the new Affordable Care Act is critical for all Californians and our state’s bottom line. When it is fully implemented, the Affordable Care Act will bring in more than $120 billion federal dollars that will be invested in the health and well-being of Californians and their communities.”
This broad effort will include:
Paid media through Latino media outlets;
Online and social media outreach, targeted largely to the under-26 audience;
Local events in or near The Endowment’s 14 Building Healthy Communities (BHC) sites to educate Californians about the provision of the Affordable Care Act.
Dr. Ross, joined by Lt. Governor Abel Maldonado at The California Endowment’s Center for Healthy Communities in Los Angeles, helped announce the statewide education effort and unveiled a 60-second television spot.
“In order to be productive, people need to be healthy. In order to be healthy, people need to know about their health care benefits and use them,” Lt. Governor Maldonado said. “I commend The California Endowment and their partner organizations throughout the state for launching this important effort to educate every Californian about their health care opportunities.”
California Endowment Senior Vice President Daniel Zingale said this education effort is the first phase of a larger multi-year effort to educate every Californian about their access to health care.
“The California Endowment’s mission is to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities, and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians,” remarked Zingale. “Making Californians aware of the new law’s benefits is critical to the success of our mission – especially in the 14 Building Healthy Communities locations where too often, people go without basic health care.”
The California Endowment will also provide educational materials about the Affordable Care Act law. This includes a timeline of when specific provisions of the law become effective.
