ADA Reviews U.S. Supreme Court Affordable Care Act Decision
On June 28th 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act (ACA) individual mandate with private insurance reforms. The Supreme Court also ruled ACA provisions on Medicaid expansion across all states, unconstitutional.
Medicaid is not obligatory upon states that make other arrangements under federal guidelines. However, as federal guidelines are broadly defined, states are not required to cover all people, regardless of how little money they have. What the ruling means is that a vast number of Americans on low incomes without insurance may not be included in Medicaid access to dental care.
There is great speculation as to why certain states reject Medicaid. Politics and state sovereignty may play a role, as may historic factors. For example in 1972 Arizona didn’t opt into Medicare due to many of their poorest communities already receiving care through the Indian Health Service. Times have changed, and those living in poverty within certain states cannot afford dental insurance or have access to Medicaid.
The American Dental Association (ADA) challenges the Supreme Court ruling on grounds that the decision breaches their oral health policies. Although there is benefit to the ACA provisions, the ADA are concerned about the impact of essential provision on poorer Americans needing to access dental care. In 2010, the ADA issued a policy statement on impacts and is currently reviewing the Supreme Court ACA decision for response.
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