HIMSS Responds to the Supreme Court Decision on Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

ARLINGTON, Va. (June 28, 2012) – After months of uncertainty, the U.S. Supreme Court today announced its decision on the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA).  The Court ruled that the law is constitutional by a 5-4 vote.

H. Stephen Lieber, CAE, HIMSS President and CEO, stated that, “HIMSS, like the rest of the country, is relieved that questions about the healthcare reform law have now been settled and the nation can move forward with the essential work of transforming healthcare in America.  Health information technology is critical to the ongoing transformation in our nation.”

As HIMSS has emphasized in the past, while there are many potential implications for health IT in the ACA, the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Records Incentive Program was never in jeopardy regardless of the outcome of this case; that program was authorized by the HITECH Act, which was part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, and not ACA, which was separate legislation passed in 2010.

Dave Roberts, MPA, FHIMSS, HIMSS Vice President, Government Relations, said, “Now that the uncertainty around ACA has been settled, it is critical that we continue the momentum to transform healthcare, including the use of information technology.”

Roberts continued, “We are pleased that congressional support for nationwide adoption of health IT on both sides of the aisle remains strong, and has been unaffected by the debate on the healthcare reform law.  Despite differences of opinion on the Healthcare Reform Law, members of both parties in Congress recognize the need to transform healthcare in this country, and the important role health IT will play in that transformation. We anticipate that the benefits of health IT will continue to receive bipartisan support as our nation establishes the infrastructure necessary for improving patient care and take strides to enhance the cost effectiveness of care delivery in the U.S.”

The Supreme Court decision in the ACA case is posted on the Court’s website.  HIMSS offers several resources on the case, including a Fact Sheet and a July 12th webinar.

About HIMSS
HIMSS is a cause-based, not-for-profit organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare. Founded 51 years ago, HIMSS and its related organizations are headquartered in Chicago with additional offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. HIMSS represents more than 44,000 individual members, of which more than two thirds work in healthcare provider, governmental and not-for-profit organizations. HIMSS also includes over 570 corporate members and more than 170 not-for-profit organizations that share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and management systems. HIMSS frames and leads healthcare practices and public policy through its content expertise, professional development, research initiatives, and media vehicles designed to promote information and management systems’ contributions to improving the quality, safety, access, and cost-effectiveness of patient care. To learn more about HIMSS and to find out how to join us and our members in advancing our cause, please visit our website at www.himss.org.

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