HCW Benefits Blog

Contributor:
Laura Bibb, JD, Compliance Officer
Hill, Chesson & Woody

Rulings have been issued in October on court cases pending in Michigan and Florida. The lawsuits in both states challenge the constitutionality of portions of the reform law known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) including the individual mandate and the requirement that states expand Medicaid. 

On October 7, a federal judge in Michigan (ruling only on the individual mandate challenge) ruled that Congress was acting within its power in enacting the individual mandate.  A week later, on October 14, a Florida federal judge ruled that the Florida suit, brought by 20 state attorneys general (Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Washington) can proceed further. 

As these lawsuits heat up, most commentators believe the court cases challenging the constitutionality of PPACA will ultimately wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court for hearing and decision. 

For continued education on healthcare reform, check out the helpful materials on the HCW website. You can also visit the National Conference of State Legislatures website to get an idea of what is happening in other states.