Libraries and the Affordable Care ACT: Helping the Community Understand Health-Care Options

The Affordable Care Act was signed into law in 2010. Since then, public libraries have been called upon to inform community members seeking to understand its impact on their personal health and well-being and provide computer access to relevant government resources and insurance applications. Goldsmith (The Readers' Advisory Guide to Graphic Novels) explains clearly the state and federal marketplaces, employer mandates, and the connection to Medicaid that are only a few of the areas that libraries can provide information on in their communities. There is no index; the content-rich table of contents and question-based chapter guide will allow for frequent revisions as the decade-long rollout progresses and links to resources change. Useful in conjunction with printed material from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, this guide addresses best practices of public libraries from the initial enrollment period and recommends tactics for effective local programs and partnerships.