NAPH and Hospital Groups Urge Supreme Court to Rule on ACA - November 1, 2011

On Oct. 27, NAPH and five other hospital groups filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to rule swiftly on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and uphold the individual mandate. The hospital groups have asked that the court focus on the constitutionality of the individual mandate and not on the validity of the Medicaid expansion called for by the ACA. The brief notes that the uncertainty surrounding the ACA has slowed the development and implementation of health reform provisions. The justices are scheduled to have their next private conference on Nov. 10, when they may decide whether or not to take on the ACA cases during the current term. Various other stakeholders have also filed briefs to the court urging a quick ruling to clear up the current uncertainty surrounding the law. NAPH will continue to monitor and provide updates on the ACA cases as they work their way through the courts.