RI prepares for the big SCOTUS health reform ruling (again)

WPRI.COM

Ted Nesi

Updated: Jun 28, 2012 2:19 PM

The justices are expected to release their opinion shortly after 10 a.m. This post from Monday will get you up to speed. Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts, who’s leading the health law’s implementation in Rhode Island, will discuss what the outcome means for the state at an 11:30 a.m. news conference.

Update: The law stands, for the most part, as a number of experts predicted.

“The bottom line,” SCOTUSblog writes, “the entire ACA is upheld, with the exception that the federal government’s power to terminate states’ Medicaid funds is narrowly read.” Much more to come.

The issue of the Medicaid funds is one that matters locally, since it affects what the federal government can and can’t do to Rhode Island’s budget. But for now, looks like implementation of Obamacare moves ahead.

Update #2: The Medicaid is apparently largely irrelevant to Rhode Island because our current leaders support expanding Medicaid and weren’t looking to buck the feds on it.

Coming up this afternoon, I’ll have a one-on-one with Lt. Gov. Roberts about what this means for Rhode Island, Christine Ferguson’s reflections on John Chafee’s framework getting upheld, and more on what happens next. Also catch my interview with Congressman Langevin on WPRI 12 at 5:30 p.m.

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