The Supreme Court announced today that it would consider the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act sometime next spring. The announcement follows four federal appeals court rulings on the Affordable Care Act, resulting in split decisions regarding the individual responsibility provision of the law, otherwise known as the "Individual Mandate". ACS CAN joined with the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association in welcoming the Supreme Court's decision to hear the case because it will help clarify whenever major provisions of the law, such as the patient protections that would impact cancer patients, can be sustained. Our group together filed friend of the court briefs with the appeals courts because we understand how important it is for patients to be properly insured. Lack of appropriate insurance has a dramatic negative impact on patient outcomes. A ruling from the high court is expected as early as June 2012, and I believe that timely review will help to alleviate confusion and allow implementation to continue in a way that supports and strengthens provisions of the law that enable cancer patients and their families to access quality, affordable health care.
The true costs of cancer are heavy, they are deep, and they are ultimately unaffordable for many, a challenge further exacerbated by this year’s COVID-19 pandemic and spotlighted by the upcoming Supreme Court case challenging the Affordable Care Act.