On Thursday of this week, the U.S. Supreme Court will announce its decision on the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The ASA legal team will closely examine the ruling and conduct a Webinar for ASA members on July 12, starting at 2 p.m. Eastern time—registration details to be announced—that will explain the implications for the staffing industry. Not a member of ASA? Join today.

Two key issues to be decided are whether Congress can compel individuals to buy health insurance and whether states can be forced to substantially increase their expenditures under the Medicaid program. The court also will decide to what extent these provisions are severable from the rest of the statute or whether they are so interconnected that the entire law must be struck down.

If the court upholds the law in its entirety, nothing will change in the short term, although the fall elections could have a major impact on whether the law is fully implemented or is repealed by a new Congress and administration. If the court strikes down the law, in whole or in part, the picture will be more complicated, both legally and politically.