Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The ACA, often referred to as federal health care reform, was signed into law in March 2010. The intent behind ACA is to ensure that all Americans have access to quality health care that is affordable. Additionally, the law introduces the transformations in health care delivery models that are necessary to control rising health care costs. Some provisions in the law went into effect immediately upon passage. Others have gone into effect in the years since passage, and some will take effect in the future.
Many states, organizations, and individuals filed federal lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of all or parts of the law. The Supreme Court heard testimony on this issue March 26–28, 2012.
ASHA closely monitors the ACA and advocates on issues impacting the professions of audiology and speech-language pathology. Below is information on key provisions of the ACA that will have the most significant impact on audiologists and speech-language pathologists. It is not an exhaustive list and will continue to evolve as health care reform does.
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