Supreme Court Upholds Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
6.28.2012
Alexandria, VA – The American Academy of Physician Assistants respects the judicial review undertaken by the United States Supreme Court to uphold the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Academy is pleased that the Court upheld the many positive provisions of the law, including the following:
- Emphasis on primary medical care and the recognition of PAs as primary care providers
- Consumer protections, such as the ban on lifetime limits and exclusion of coverage due to pre-existing conditions, as well as the coverage of adult children up to age 26 on parents’ insurance plans, and financial assistance to seniors in meeting prescription drug needs
- Movement toward a healthcare delivery system that rewards patient-centered, team-based medical care, transparency, evidence-based medicine and value
“AAPA is pleased that healthcare system delivery reforms will continue,” said James Delaney, AAPA president. “The current number of uninsured Americans is unacceptable, and the cost of the nation’s healthcare is unsustainable. The AAPA looks forward to working with Congress to continue to improve access to affordable healthcare, and the Academy looks forward to working with the states to implement the law’s healthcare delivery system reforms.”
While the AAPA has not endorsed any specific structure of healthcare reform or financing for reform efforts, it supports access to quality, affordable, cost-effective care for all Americans, with the expanded use of primary medical care; an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention; the use of evidence-based medicine; and a payment mechanism that is portable and sustainable for individuals, families, and society.