Government Digest: July 15

U.S. Circuit Court upholds health care reform
CINCINNATI — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit recently upheld the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordability Act (PPACA), as amended. In issuing the first federal appellate opinion regarding the constitutionality of the act, the Ohio court held that “the minimum coverage provision is a valid exercise of legislative power by Congress under the Commerce Clause ...” To support its ruling, the court found that “virtually everyone” will require health care services, but the “uninsured cannot avoid the need for health care, and they consume over $100 billion in health care services annually.” As such, “the practice of self-insuring substantially affects interstate commerce by driving up the cost of health care as well as by shifting costs to third parties.” The court concluded that the minimum coverage provision is a valid exercise of Congress's ability to regulate commerce.