Last week, after great anticipation, the Supreme Court upheld the individual insurance requirement, a major component of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) often referred to as “ObamaCare.”
While party leaders on both sides either celebrated or updated their campaign strategies, here in LA County, things still remain a bit of a mystery.
What we do know is that Los Angeles County has the largest uninsured population in the nation – over 2 million people. That is not sustainable for our system, particularly as health care costs continue to rise.
What we do not know is a whole lot! There are many unknowns when it comes to the State’s participation in Medicaid expansion, the overall funding and infrastructure impacts, and the introduction of more competition into our system. I believe competition is a good thing and it should provide people with more choices and control over their healthcare.
We have been preparing for the ACA and will continue to ready ourselves, while ensuring we can meet the healthcare needs of those who depend on our hospitals and clinics as the ultimate safety net.