This report for the State Coverage Initiatives program of AcademyHealth explores how states could use resources provided by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to achieve five goals:

- Increasing coverage and access to care;
- Reforming health insurance to function more like a traditional market;
- Holding insurers accountable;
- Reforming health care delivery to slow cost growth and improve quality; and
- Reduce state budget deficits.

The paper, "State Implementation of National Health Reform: Harnessing Federal Resources to Meet State Policy Goals," concludes that federal legislation gives states powerful new tools for making progress towards longstanding policy objectives.