Under the Affordable Care Act, some local health-related nonprofits may grow in response to the influx of California residents who are expected to receive health insurance later this year.

Risë Phillips, the CEO of a clinic that provides healthcare to low-income communities, led a roundtable discussion about the Affordable Care Act

At a roundtable discussion in Los Angeles, representatives from some of these nonprofits discussed possible challenges and benefits of the reform. Two to three million new people in California will start receiving insurance on January 1, when the Act takes effect nationwide, said Risë Phillips, CEO of T.H.E Health and Wellness Centers, a clinic that provides health care to low-income communities in Los Angeles and one which expects to grow because of new patients becoming insured under the Affordable Care Act.

“The most important thing is to treat all of our patients like kings and queens,” Phillips said.

The bill, which President Obama signed into federal law in 2010, was intended to reduce the costs of health care for both the American government and taxpayers. IT requires everyone to have a health insurance plan starting in 2014 or pay a tax penalty, starting at $95 per individual and $285 per family.

The Affordable Care Act requires insurance companies to spend 80 percent of premiums on health care, rather than on administrative costs. Also, all new health care plans must cover preventive care measures such as mammograms and colonoscopies.

This week, the American Medical Association recognized obesity as a disease, a decision that will affect how patients are treated under the Affordable Care Act. Phillips said that treating obesity as a disorder on its own will hopefully cut back cases of diabetes. Out of people diagnosed with type II diabetes, about 80 to 90 percent are also diagnosed as obese, according to Diabetic Care Services.

“Insurance companies will complain because they have to fund more treatments,” Phillips said. “But medical providers can assign more quality care since it will have its own code.”

The Act's focus on preventative measures may cause nonprofits such as community gardens to grow, as patients may become more aware of holistic approaches to wellness, such as healthy eating to prevent obesity. 

Community gardens that lack funds may form partnerships with larger organizations with the resources to distribute their fruit and vegetables to other communities, said representatives from The Grants Professional Association, a group providing grants to nonprofits.

Christopher Kollenbum, T.H.E.'s director of development and communications, said he hopes the organization can increase patients from 13,000 to 32,000 in the next year.

“It’s definitely an exciting time for health care,” he said. “There’s going to be mistakes made, but ultimately people are going to be covered and have better access to health care.”

Reach Reporter Anne Artley here.