This morning, June 28, 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) cases. The individual mandate, requiring the purchase of health insurance, was held constitutional under Congress’ taxing power. The Court did not address the severability issue as to whether other ACA provisions are unconstitutional because the mandate survived. However, the Court did address Medicaid expansion, holding that the expansion is constitutional as long as states would lose only new federal funds – rather than all funding – for failing to comply with the new Medicaid requirements.

Stay tuned for a full summary of the Court’s decision as well as the potential effect of the decision on providers.