HOW HEALTH CARE REFORM AFFECTS SENIORS

One benefit of aging in America has always been the quality health coverage of Medicare. As the primary consumers of healthcare in the U.S., anything that impacts the healthcare system impacts seniors. The Affordable Care Act is law, but there remain multiple implementation issues. What is happening and how will it affect seniors’ access to health care services? Are seniors better or worse off under the new rules? How are Medicare benefits changing? Will seniors still be able to choose their doctors and treatments? Should they be shopping for their own insurance? Are there new decisions they must make? Where can seniors go for help and advice in making choices? Join our panel of experts as they guide you through the changing landscape of senior healthcare.

Carolyn Quattrocki is the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Health Care Reform. Prior to her appointment, she served as a Deputy Legislative Officer and health policy advisor in the Governor’s Legislative Office, with primary responsibility for health care, insurance, and labor issues. Ms. Quattrocki also worked as a Special Assistant to Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr., was a litigation associate at the law firm of Arnold & Porter in Washington, D.C., and a law clerk for the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. Ms. Quattrocki has a law degree from Yale University and a B.A. from Northwestern University.

Marsha Greenfield is Vice-President, Legislative Affairs, for LeadingAge (formerly AAHSA, the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging). She represents LeadingAge on all health care issues, including financing reform, Medicare and Medicaid, patient safety, elder abuse, and medical liability reform, technology, and issues concerning not for profit status and taxation. She was LeadingAge’s chief lobbyist on healthcare reform and the CLASS Act. She has served as LeadingAge’s liaison to the Department of Justice, the Office of Inspector General at HHS, and outside groups involved in elder justice, consumer and other issues. Prior to joining LeadingAge in 1998, she served as founding executive director of a consumer organization for family members and residents of assisted living communities. Marsha received her A.B. from Vassar College and her J.D. from Rutgers Law School.

Mark A. Gottlieb, MHA, is both a licensed insurance agent and a health care/senior living consultant., obtaining an insurance license in 2000 to assist seniors considering long term care protection. Mark is Pirncipal at The Gottlieb Group Insurance & Financial Solutions which offers individual and group health insurance, disability protection, critical illness, life insurance, long term care cost protection, Medicare supplements, annuities, and final expense policies, as well as a range of retirement products. He has been certified by both the Maryland and District of Columbia Health Exchanges to offer both individual and small group products. Mark has also served as Administrator at a 156 unit Senior Living Community where he addressed the day to day needs and challenges faced by an aging population. He is a Board member of The Senior Connection, a non-profit organization providing support services to frail elders in Montgomery County.