ACA on Trial Part II: Possible Outcomes

As published on the CAHC website here.

In Part I of our multi-part piece on the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) in the Supreme Court, CAHC took a brief look at the issues before the Court. In this Part II, CAHC presents a diagram demonstrating the possible outcomes when the high court hands down its decision at the end of its term in June.

But note, while the ACA sits before the Supreme Court, the justices might not be the only threat to its provisions. The Court is expected to hand down its decision at the end of their term, just months before the 2012 election. While implementation of the law has already begun, the largest part, the individual mandate, does not take effect until after the election, in 2014. Defund and delay tactics through a Republican President or control in the Senate or House could pose a bigger threat to implementation than the Supreme Court. Yet, until a decision is reached, we wait with bated breath.