News Releases

July Policy Snapshot Examines Supreme Court Decision on Health Reform

By now the dust has started to settle on the Supreme Court’s highly anticipated ruling on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). While it can be hard to navigate the legal jargon, the Supreme Court decision on health reform cleared up a number of uncertainties surrounding the law. In simple terms, the Court first determined that it did have the authority to rule on the law despite the fact that the penalties it imposes don’t start until 2015. Second, the ruling asserted that Congress does have the authority to require all Americans to obtain health insurance under its taxing authority. Finally, the Court ruled that the Medicaid expansion is constitutional; however, the provision that allowed Congress to withhold all federal Medicaid matching funds from states that do not participate in the expansion was struck down. This month’s policy snapshot, Federal Healthcare Reform: The Decision is In, examines the implications of these decisions and how hospitals will respond.

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