Libraries and the Affordable Care Act

Ever since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, public library staff throughout the country have been working hard to provide access to information about the law while educating their communities about how implementation affects them. But defining the expectations and limitations of libraries’ roles regarding support of the new law remains a challenge. This important guide, the first written specifically for library staff, offers best practices, advice, and examples of library responses from the first open enrollment period (October 2013-March 2014). Offering clear and explicit guidance related to the ethical and legal aspects of Affordable Care Act policy support through local library services, this resourceAnalyzes the nearly 20 different state-level marketplace regulatory ecosystems to find common ground, then pathfinds the quickest routes to state-level information for each stateAddresses the diverse needs of public library communities in both urban and rural settings, while examining staff capacities at various librariesEncourages a pragmatic approach through the inclusion of “to do” lists at the end of each chapterProvides strategies and tools for building community healthcare awarenessPublished in advance of the second open enrollment period, this invaluable guide will encourage broader and more assured community support during this period of major policy changes to healthcare access and availability.