Today, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Affordable Care Act, a reform law designed to make quality healthcare affordable and accessible for all Americans.
The Affordable Care Act:
- Requires most Americans to obtain minimum health insurance coverage
- Works to stop insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions
- Requires insurers to cover children in family plans until they are 26 years old
- Includes an expansion of eligibility for the federal Medicaid program
Cleveland Clinic President and CEO, Delos M. Cosgrove, MD, calls the Supreme Court decision “a monumental moment” in our country’s history.
“It means that we’re moving ahead on the journey of reforming healthcare in the United States. It means that we’re ensuring access for people who haven’t had access before. And it means that we will continue to address quality and develop a more efficient healthcare delivery system,” Dr. Cosgrove says.
He notes the ever-increasing cost of healthcare in the United States and the need for change in our healthcare delivery system.
“The current cost curve for healthcare in our country is unsustainable …We can no longer deliver twenty-first century care within the framework of a 1950s-era healthcare system. We need to transform our idea of where and how healthcare is delivered if medicine is going keep up with the needs of today’s society and those for generations to come.”
How the Ruling Affects Hospitals
The Affordable Care Act defines how hospitals and healthcare providers will work together to lower costs, Dr. Cosgrove says.
“With today’s decision, we now know the rules so we can play the game, which is really about hospitals and healthcare providers working together to lower costs while improving outcomes for patients,” he says, adding that this approach is not new.
“We’ve been doing this for years and will continue with advancements like electronic medical records, more coordination of care across disciplines, and changing the way doctors are paid.”
