Supreme Court Upholds Obama Health Care Law

The Supreme Court has ruled in a 5-4 decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act, declaring its individual mandate to be constitutional today.

The argument against the constitutionality of the individual mandate had been that it violated states' rights, but proponents cited the Constitution's commerce clause as justification. However the court seems to have found a way around the argument, ruling that the mandate was constitutional anyway under Congress's ability to tax.

In other words, the government can't force you to buy insurance, but Congress can tax you if you don't.

Considered to be the defining domestic policy acheivement for President Barack Obama, the Affordable Care Act -- often referred to as "Obamacare" -- has been a political lightning rod since it was passed in March 2010 by Democrats along party lines with virtually no Republican support.

Supporters of the law have insisted that it would provide coverage to millions of Americans who could not find or afford coverage before, lower health care costs in the long run and prohibit insurance companies from refusing to cover sick people.

Opponents have insisted that the law is a massive government overreach that will further balloon the nation's deficit without bringing health care costs down and will cost the nation millions of jobs as the new regulations strangle businesses.

When asked for comment, Norwood Hospital referred to Christopher Murphy who is the Director of Media Relations for Steward Health Care Systems. 

"It's great for the Commonwealth and the country because it will allow people to get care in the right setting," Murphy said.

Noting that not much will changed for Massachusetts due to the extensive reform already put in place by the state, Murphy said that the ruling legitimizes the efforts for reform and legislation that has already taken place in the state.

Locally, Plainville resident and Foxborough optometrist Steven Holtzman has told Patch that while he does not agree with the law, he respects the ruling from the Supreme Court.

"If the Supreme Court which knows way more about law than I know says it’s constitutional, then I tend to think that it’s constitutional," Dr. Holtzman said.

Holtzman also said other doctors have said that the ruling would be good for optomistrists but is taking a wait and see attitude towards the ruling.