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Forum Held To Help Medical Professionals With Health Care Law

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The new health care reform law is meant to help millions of Americans.  But in the process it's confusing many health care professionals.

Andrea Fujii explains how some got their questions answered Monday.

It's estimated 400,000 more Marylanders will be insured under the new Affordable Healthcare Act.

But more patients mean more work and costs, leaving medical professionals with questions.

"It's very difficult for an organization like mine because we're small," said Willie Flowers, Park Heights Health Alliance.

Flowers is just one of many medical providers who want answers about who is going to help pay for the additional clientele and how to market to them.

So Congressman Elijah Cummings addressed some concerns at a forum at the University of Maryland Baltimore.

"A lot of people in the health care industry want to know exactly where the administration is and how things are moving," said Cummings.

"Most people really don't understand the legislation.  It's a 2,500 page piece of legislation, so it's complicated," said Joanne Grossi, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Another concern is what role the budget deficit will play.

"They're proposing a lot of cuts. We're concerned as to the impact that it will have on providers," said Miguel McInnis, Association of Community Health Centers.

"People don't understand that built into the Affordable Healthcare are a lot of cost-saving measures.  So the cost savings will end up paying for the legislation," said Grossi.

Even though the future of health care reform is in question, it'll be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court next year.

The law will continue to be implemented as planned.

For more answers about the law, click here.

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