High Court Upholds Affordable Care Act

In a landmark ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld nearly all of the 2010 health care reform law. The court approved even the law’s most disputed part — a requirement that nearly all Americans have health insurance. Chief Justice John Roberts, a conservative, joined four liberal justices in the 5-4 ruling. They found that the mandate to buy insurance is allowed under the government’s taxing powers. The Obama administration also sought approval based on the power to regulate interstate commerce. But the court rejected that argument. The majority did reject one provision of the Affordable Care Act. That section dealt with the expansion of the Medicaid program. This is one major way that the law expands insurance coverage. The court said that the expansion can proceed.