Health

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 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • In the News

    The irony of the Supreme Court's decision is that this will make little difference in the presidential election outcome in that the number one issue is the economy, remains the economy, with any number two issue back in the dust.

    June 28, 2012, Stephen Hess, The Brookings Institution

  • In the News

    It’s a huge victory for patients and everything about this law that patients really enjoy and have an opportunity to enjoy in the future have been critical to the ruling today.

    June 28, 2012, Kavita Patel, National Public Radio

Quoted

"[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

"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

"…[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

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