I've heard the time frame is 2 or 3 years, but I don't know any specifics. I've been googling, trying to find out when various provisions will actually go into effect, but haven't had any luck yet. If anyone reading this knows more, please feel free to fill in the blanks.
The midterms are less than a year and a half away, and if we can take back at least the House, it's at least theoretically possible that some of the worst parts of this (like the cuts that will cause hospitals and nursing homes to close) could be headed off. That's all hypothetical at this point, but it's at least something to hold onto for now.
I don't have extremely high hopes, but I seem to be one of those cockeyed optimists that insist on hanging on to hope with my fingernails no matter how hard the "bad guys" try to wrench it away from me. I know that probably sounds nuts to some of you, but as Popeye used to say, I yam what I yam!" 
Edit history
= new reply since forum marked as read