Today, March 23, 2012, is the two year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act.

What an exciting moment in the history of our country. Look at the reaction moment photo.  Obama's face captures it all, with others cheering in the background.  It looks like Teddy Roosevelt's horse is also excited.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="531"] Barack Obama reacts to the House agreeing to the Senate's ammendment to the ACA[/caption]

Today the NPR health blog posted a great article about where we are in the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.  Has it met it's goals?

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/03/22/149161895/where-implementation-of-health-overhaul-stands?ft=1&f=103537970

The article simply summarizes in table format each of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act, the 2010 cost and impact, what has been done, and whether or not it is "on track".  The table really impressed me as an excellent, well-referenced resource that I wanted to refer our readers to.  It divides the provisions into expanding coverage, senior benefits, and consumer protections.  Below are some highlights.

EXPANDING COVERAGE - 7 provisions

3/7 - Met goal

3/7 - Has not met goal

1/7 - Too soon to tell

An estimated 54 million people received at least one free preventive health benefit in 2011 (goal was 41 million).

48,879 people covered through 2011; Cost: $618 million through 2011 (goal was 200,000-400,000 covered).

SENIOR BENEFITS - 3 provisions

3/3 - Met goal

Prescription drug benefit included 3.8 million beneficiaries who saved $2.3 billion in 2011.  Old people should love Obama.

CONSUMER PROTECTIONS - 5 provisions

2/5 - Met goal

3/5 - Too soon to tell

Insurers can no longer impose lifetime limits.

I'm impressed, are you?

By Doctor LauraClubFancy, your health care correspondent.