Title: The Constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act: An Update | Journal of Ethics | American Medical Association
Headings: The Constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act: An Update
The Constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act: An Update
The Court’s Holding
The Aftermath of the Ruling
References
Author Information

Content: The Constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act: An Update | Journal of Ethics | American Medical Association
Health Law
Nov 2012
The Constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act: An Update
Valarie Blake, JD, MA
Virtual Mentor. 2012;14 (11):873-876. doi: 10.1001/virtualmentor.2012.14.11.hlaw1-1211. On June 28, 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld key provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) after 26 states had challenged its constitutionality in lower courts. In last November’s Virtual Mentor health law column, we summarized some of the key legal issues the court would consider in the ACA case, and now we examine their ruling, including the basis for the court’s decision and relevant legal considerations as the ACA is implemented [1]. The Court’s Holding
The Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision determined the constitutionality of two key substantive provisions in the ACA: the individual mandate and a requirement that states expand eligibility criteria for Medicaid coverage [2].