You’ve heard the figures: 46 million Americans lack health insurance, we spend more per capita than any other first world nation for health care, but our health is worse.

But what will national healthcare reform - or the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - do to change any of that? How will it affect your healthcare? Those are the questions Jessica Gao set out to answer in her special report: "Shock to the System."

Watch the documentary here, and then explore this site using the tabs above to find information, resources, extended interviews and more.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - also known as federal healthcare reform - is a complex 2,700 page bill. Here are a series of web sites and resources mentioned in the documentary that will help you navigate the act and what it means for you.

Understanding the Law

• Here’s a link to the entire 2,700 page bill
• And here’s a summary of the Patient Care and Affordability Act
• Here’s the AARP’s primer on legislation
• This is the Washington Policy Center’s take on reform

Understanding elements of the plan

• What is a "doughnut hole" and how does it affect you?
• How will "insurance exchanges" work?
• What is a "medical home" and why do I need one?
• More details on what restaurants are required to display nutrition information
• About Accountable Care Organizations
• Lessons on ACOs from The Everett Clinic
• What is the public option?
• How is this similar and different than the Massachusetts law?
• Medical Loss Ratio: the new rule requiring insurance companies to keep administrative costs low compared to direct spending on medical care

What are the statistics, facts and reports?

• The Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care uses Medicare data to analyze hospitals and healthcare nationwide.
• Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that provides research and analysis on healthcare
• Washington’s Health Care Personnel Shortage Task Force report on healthcare worker shortages
• The latest report on worker shortages
• Dr. Bob Crittenden’s Research through the Herndon Alliance
• The hidden cost of uninsured and uncompensated care
• Medicare Cost Disparities
• New Yorker Article
• State Insurance Commissioner’s Office
• Department of Health

While reporting "Shock to the System," Jessica Gao interviewed more than 20 people. Below, there are extended interviews with some of the experts she spoke with.

Dr. Roger Stark with the Washington Policy Center shares his recommendations for health care policy in the U.S. First off, he’d repeal the federal reform.

Mary Selecky, secretary of the state Department of Health, on how public health helps keep healthcare costs down.

Doug Porter, Health Care Authority administrator, on the Basic Health Plan.

Porter also spoke about cutting down on waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid.

Susan Johnson, Regional Director for the US Department of Health & Human Services, shares her role in health care reform implementation.

Jennifer Tolbert from the Kaiser Family Foundation discussed how federal healthcare reform will be paid for. (Note: This video was created by KFF. More information can be found here.)

If you watched the documentary and are interested in one of the programs, here are a list of resources mentioned.

• Pre-existing Condition Insurance Pool
• How to apply for the pre-existing condition insurance pool
• How early retirees can keep insurance
• Yakima Neighborhood Health Services
• Community Health of Central Washington
• Hospital Employee Education and Training (HEET) program
• University of Washington Harborview Medical Center
• The Everett Clinic

Here are some other articles you may be interested in.

• NPR's series on primary care professionals
• Case study: how preventive care saved one company from cost increases.
• Nutrition labeling: Will movie theaters and convenience stores be required to post labels, too?

After watching the documentary and reading through the information, e-mail us if you still have unanswered questions.