News

Healthcare organizations that were previously sitting along the sidelines when it came to healthcare reform are going to have to get the ball rolling now that the Supreme Court has made the ruling to uphold the 2010 healthcare law, according to a report published Friday by the PwC Health Research Institute (HRI).

Last week's Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act provided a setback to the Obama Administration by ruling that while the federal government can expand the Medicaid program, it cannot withhold funds from states that choose not to participate in the expansion.

The National Quality Forum voted to uphold its decision to endorse an all-cause hospital-wide readmissions measure, which had been challenged by seven hospitals.

On the heels of the Supreme Court ruling that upholds the health reform law, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced June 29 new funding to help states continue their work to build health insurance exchanges as specified under the Affordable Care Act.

Federal enforcers are preparing to audit healthcare organizations for how well they establish and follow privacy and security practices and data breach notification standards.

In upholding the entirety of the Affordable Care Act, the Supreme Court did provide a setback to the Obama Administration by ruling that while the federal government can expand the Medicaid program, it cannot withhold funds from states that choose not to participate in the expansion.

How do officials in the public health sector feel about the final 5-4 decision? For the most part, positively -- though many officials emphasize it's just the first step on a long road to reform.

With the nation on the edge of its seat June 28, the Supreme Court ruled it constitutional for all Americans to obtain health insurance or face penalties. And with the remaining sections of the ACA staying in place, healthcare reform was deemed to be in full swing, resulting in another victory for the Obama administration.

It's no secret that the broad adoption of electronic health record systems will bring about tremendous cost-savings once implemented. Repeat: once implemented. But before then? How does a healthcare organization avoid breaking the bank while trying to get to that lucrative promised land?

So the Supreme Court ruling -- finally -- has been handed down and the verdict is out: Chief Justice Roberts' hand pulled the ACA to shore.