The Affordable Care Act also known as ACA, “the law” and “Obamacare” was passed in March of 2010. As stated by Showalter, 2017 “the legislation was not a single statue but was a combination of Patient Protection and ACA of 2010, Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, Indian Health Care Improvement Reauthorization and Extension Act of 2009 and student aid and Fiscal Act” (pg. 62-63). The ACA was created to help individuals obtain insurance coverage. It extended the Medicaid program so that it can cover adult who have low income.
The case of the Department of Health and Human Services, et al. v. Florida, et al., Petitioners challenges the ACA by stating that the burden of expanded Medicaid coverage. The synopsis of rule of law is that “expanding Medicaid coverage under ACA requires the state to increase eligibility and health benefit coverage, which goes beyond the authority of Congress under the spending clause” (Department of Health and Human Services, et al. v. Florida, et al., Petitioners. n.d.). The act is practically covering every human being under the age of 65 with income below hundred and thirty-three percent whereas previously it only covers a certain population such as children, pregnant women, elderly, blind, and disable.
The case stated “The States (Plaintiff) argue that Congress has crossed the line distinguishing encouragement from coercion with the Medicaid expansion. Not only did Congress refuse to grant new funds to States (Plaintiff) that rejected the new conditions, Congress has also threatened to withhold their existing Medicaid funds. The States (Plaintiff) claim that this threat’s only purpose is to force States that are unwilling to sign up for the dramatic expansion in health care coverage affected by the ACA.’ (Department of Health and Human Services, et al. v. Florida, et al., Petitioners. n.d.). In conclusion, that majority agreed with the plaintiff that the extension goes further than Congress authority. It was not right for the state to use coercion.
The ACA will affect healthcare administrators in that it will increase the amount of patient. Those who do not have coverage tend not to go to the skilled nursing facility due to the out of packet coast however with the ACA patient now have coverage and can attend inpatient rehab. Facility who are used to working with fewer staff will have to hire new employees to meet the need of the new patient. For example, if the facility only has one doctor in the morning it will require hiring a second to cover the afternoon shift for new admission.
References
- Department of Health and Human Services, et al. v. Florida, et al., Petitioners. (n.d.). RetrievedFebruary 13, 2019, from https://www.casebriefs.com/blog/law/health-law/health-law-keyed-to-furrow/pubic-health-care-financing-programs-medicare-and-medicaid/department-of-health-and-human-services-et-al-v-florida-et-al-petitioners/
- Showalter, J. (2017). The Law of Healthcare Administration. (8th ed.).Chicago, Ill: Health Administration Press.
