Healthcare industry reacts to SCOTUS ruling

Not surprisingly, reaction from healthcare industry stakeholders to the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act has been swift.

Here are some excerpts of the comments Healthcare Finance News has received:

Jeremy Lazarus, MD, president, the American Medical Association: "The American Medical Association has long supported health insurance coverage for all, and we are pleased that this decision means millions of Americans can look forward to the coverage they need to get healthy and stay healthy."

Ron Pollack, executive director, Families USA: "Today's Supreme Court ruling is a clear, unambiguous, and complete victory for long-overdue healthcare reform. It sends an unmistakable message that the building of a better, fairer healthcare system will continue to move forward."

Nancy Brown, CEO, American Heart Association: "Questions about the Affordable Care Act's constitutionality have overshadowed the law's progress. With this ruling, that uncertainty has finally been put to rest. By upholding the law, the nation's highest court has sent a clear message that patients should be the first priority in an ever-changing healthcare arena."

John C. Lechleiter, PhD, chairman, president and CEO, Eli Lilly: "Even with today's decision, we expect that the debate about healthcare and health coverage will continue, and that further reforms and changes are likely in the years ahead."

Dan Mendelson, Avalere Health CEO and founder: "So while the conservatives don't like the mandate and liberals aren't bothered by it, the center of the court agreed that it is permissible to penalize consumers who don't purchase insurance with financial penalties. What this means for healthcare companies is that they can refocus strategically on the business of preparing for the implementation of the law. Most have already gone well down that road strategically, investing in Medicaid, individual insurance lines and regional consolidation. Going forward, there will be further threats to the law from the Congress, and we will know in November how serious those threats will be."

Ken Klukowski, JD, legal counsel, Family Research Council: "The Supreme Court has today given the federal government unlimited authority to use its tax power to require Americans to engage in specific commercial activity. The obvious implication is chilling: Uncle Sam can make you buy anything, at any price, for any reason. That's why today, the American dream gave way to a real American nightmare."

Karen Ignagni, president and CEO, America's Health Insurance Plans: "As the reform law is implemented, health plans will continue to focus on promoting affordability and peace of mind for their beneficiaries. The law expands coverage to millions of Americans, a goal health plans have long supported, but major provisions, such as the premium tax, will have the unintended consequences of raising costs and disrupting coverage unless they are addressed."

Susan DeVore, president and CEO, Premier: "Given the fact that healthcare is our nation's top economic issue, the court's decision will enable us to continue to move forward to improve the quality and affordability of care for Americans."

Supply chain group VHA (unattributed): "The good news is that the decision eliminates the uncertainty surrounding the constitutionality of the act, which unquestionably has served as a catalyst for important change in the industry. However, the political and fiscal challenges facing the healthcare industry will continue. This is particularly true given the uncertainty about how Congress and the administration may choose to address the court's concerns about the proposed Medicaid expansion, and the fiscal impact that resolution may have on hospitals and the patients they serve in states that choose not to participate in the expansion."

Karen A. Daley, PhD, RN, American Nurses Association: "This decision means that millions of people will have access to the basic healthcare and preventive services that they've lacked. Instead of getting sicker and developing serious and costly complications because they can't afford to manage their health conditions, people will get the care they need to recognize problems earlier or avoid them altogether. There will be savings throughout the system."