title: Local leadership and the Affordable Care Act.
abstract: Local health departments are in key positions to lead in the education and implementation efforts to advance the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The first enrollment period is over, but the efforts to enroll the uninsured and advocate for expansion of Medicaid in the states that have not yet taken on this expansion will continue for years to come. Political climates may be unsupportive, but some actions may still be possible.
authors.affiliation: Houston Department of Health and Human Services, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Stephen L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Beverly L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.forename: M Katherine
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De LaCruz
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hernandez
mesh_terms: D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D009111:Local Government; D008484:Medicaid / Q000191:economics; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends*; D014481:United States