Supreme Court Rules on Affordable Care Act

ON TOPIC

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled to uphold the Affordable Care Act in a 5-4 decision, led by Chief Justice John Roberts in an opinion centered on Congress's power to tax. Brookings experts offer their views on the ruling's impact on health care delivery, economics and politics.

People with disabilities rally against cutting Medicaid funding in 2011.

People with disabilities rally at the Capitol Building in Washington in 2011, calling for Congress to avoid cutting Medicaid funding. (REUTERS/Jason Reed)

Past Event

Web Chat: Health Care and the States

July 11, 2012

How will the Supreme Court's decision affect states' implementation of the health care law? What changes can we expect in massive programs like Medicare and Medicaid? On July 11, Brookings expert Tracy Gordon took your questions and comments in a live web chat moderated by Emily Howell of POLITICO.

Recent Activity

Refine by: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | U.S. Supreme Court | Health | U.S. Politics

In the News

[Mitt Romney] belongs to a very conservative party that hates this [health care] bill, many members of which have sworn that they’d rather eat ground glass than let this law go forward. But there is the conflicting problem of, ‘If you break it, you own it.’ [He will own] anything that goes wrong with the health-care system down the road.
July 10, 2012, Henry J. Aaron, Washington Post
Paper

Give Me Liberty or at Least Your Votes: A Study of Governors' Altruism on Health Care

July 5, 2012, John Hudak
Blog Post

States and the Affordable Care Act: An Offer They (Still) Can’t Refuse

July 2, 2012, Tracy Gordon | comments
In the News

Actual repeal of health care reform on “day one” of a Romney administration is not possible, but a President Romney—assisted by a Republican House and Senate—could put into motion the steps necessary to pursue repeal over the course of 2013. Technically, Romney’s success would depend on whether or not Republicans gain control of both the House and Senate, and on the byzantine rules of the budget process in Congress.
July 2, 2012, Sarah A. Binder, Washington Post
In the News

…[D]on't be too surprised if [Chief Justice] Roberts [in his] next terms looks like a conservative again. He actually did not stray very far from where the other four conservatives ended up in this [ACA] case — just over a consequential line.
July 1, 2012, Benjamin Wittes, Bloomberg Businessweek
Opinion

Health Care Ruling Is Less Liberal Than It Looks

June 29, 2012, Darrell M. West
In the News

Public opinion on the [health care law] has been remarkably stable for two years, and I don’t think anything the president says (or Romney, for that matter) will make much of a difference. Only direct experience of the Act’s effects will change people’s minds, or alternatively, confirm them.
June 29, 2012, William A. Galston, Real Clear Politics Blog
Expert Q & A | Henry J. Aaron

Supreme Court Decides Affordable Care Act Is Constitutional

June 28, 2012, Henry J. Aaron
Interview | NPR News

Does Court's Rule Put End To Health Care Battle?

June 28, 2012, Kavita Patel
Opinion

The Supreme Court's Affordable Care Act Decision: An "Act of Judicial Statesmanship"

June 28, 2012, Jonathan Rauch

View All Research on Supreme Court Rules on Affordable Care Act ›Show 10 More

Quoted

Henry J. Aaron

Senior Fellow, Economic Studies

The Bruce and Virginia MacLaury Chair

"[Mitt Romney] belongs to a very conservative party that hates this [health care] bill, many members of which have sworn that they’d rather eat ground glass than let this law go forward. But there is the conflicting problem of, ‘If you break it, you own it.’ [He will own] anything that goes wrong with the health-care system down the road."

Source: Washington Post

Sarah A. Binder

Senior Fellow, Governance Studies

@BinderSAB

"Actual repeal of health care reform on “day one” of a Romney administration is not possible, but a President Romney—assisted by a Republican House and Senate—could put into motion the steps necessary to pursue repeal over the course of 2013. Technically, Romney’s success would depend on whether or not Republicans gain control of both the House and Senate, and on the byzantine rules of the budget process in Congress."

Source: Washington Post

Benjamin Wittes

Senior Fellow, Governance Studies

@benjaminwittes

"…[D]on't be too surprised if [Chief Justice] Roberts [in his] next terms looks like a conservative again. He actually did not stray very far from where the other four conservatives ended up in this [ACA] case — just over a consequential line."

Source: Bloomberg Businessweek