Health care law: What's up for debate
The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld Obama's health care law. Here's a look at what was up for debate.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the health care reform law passed in 2010. CNN takes a look at what was up for debate.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the health care reform law passed in 2010. CNN takes a look at what was up for debate.
1. Anti-Injunction Act debate
This gateway issue could stop the case in its tracks if justices declare the health care law's key provision -- the mandate requiring Americans to purchase health insurance -- a "tax."
The Anti-Injunction Act, which dates back to 1867, bars claimants from asking for a refund on a tax until that tax has been collected and paid. In this case, that would be 2014.
2. Individual Mandate debate
This is the key issue up for debate: Is the mandate requiring all Americans to buy health insurance unconstitutional?
Three federal appeals courts have found the mandate to be constitutional, while another has said it is not, labeling it "breathtaking in its expansive scope."
3. Severability debate
The debate here, essentially, is this: If the individual mandate section is ruled unconstitutional, must the entire law collapse as well?
A federal judge in Florida ruled so in February 2011, but a federal appeals court overturned that ruling, while upholding the individual mandate's unconstitutionality.
4. Medicaid "coercion" debate
This hearing will look at whether states can be forced by the federal government to expand their share of Medicaid costs and administration, with the risk of losing that funding if they refuse.
The 28 GOP-led states bringing separate lawsuits say the new law's significant expansion of the social safety net unconstitutionally "coerces" state governments.
A decision on the law isn't expected until at least June, and will likely factor heavily into this fall's presidential election.
