Supreme Court Upholds Affordable Care Act

American Academy of Physician Assistants Pleased with Provision

ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 28, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Academy of Physician Assistants respects the judicial review undertaken by the United States Supreme Court to uphold the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Academy is pleased that the Court upheld the many positive provisions of the law, including the following.

• Emphasis on primary medical care and the recognition of PAs as primary care providers.
• Consumer protections, such as the ban on lifetime limits and exclusion of coverage due to pre-existing conditions, as well as the coverage of adult children up to age 26 on parents' insurance plans and financial assistance to seniors in meeting prescription drug needs.
• Movement toward a healthcare delivery system that rewards patient-centered, team-based medical care, transparency, evidence-based medicine and value.

"AAPA is pleased that healthcare system delivery reforms will continue," said James Delaney, AAPA president. "The current number of uninsured Americans is unacceptable, and the cost of the nation's healthcare is unsustainable. The AAPA looks forward to working with Congress to continue to improve access to affordable healthcare, and the Academy looks forward to working with the states to implement the law's healthcare delivery system reforms."

While the AAPA has not endorsed any specific structure of healthcare reform or financing for reform efforts, it supports access to quality, affordable, cost-effective care for all Americans, with the expanded use of primary medical care; an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention; the use of evidence-based medicine, and a payment mechanism that is portable and sustainable for individuals, families and society.

About the American Academy of Physician Assistants
Founded in 1968, the American Academy of Physician Assistants is the national professional society for physician assistants. It represents a profession of more than 84,000 certified PAs across all medical and surgical specialties in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the majority of the U.S. territories, and within the uniformed services. AAPA advocates and educates on behalf of the profession and the patients PAs serve. It works to ensure the professional growth, personal excellence and recognition of physician assistants and to enhance their ability to improve the quality, accessibility and cost-effectiveness of patient-centered healthcare. Visit www.aapa.org to learn more.

SOURCE American Academy of Physician Assistants