The document discusses the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), signed into law in 2010. It overviews the national focus on healthcare reform to lower costs and increase access. Obamacare aims to provide healthcare coverage to all Americans at a total annual cost to the US of over $2 trillion, or 16-18% of GDP. The Supreme Court affirmed the constitutionality of the law in 2011, though it remains an ongoing source of debate.

1. Obamacare – Just Another Piece of Legislation
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Signed into law on March 23, 2010
• National focus on health care • U.S. has a long history of
reform – 80% of people in U.S. legislating health care reform going
want reform that will lower costs back 100 years
and provide better access. • Many laws: Hill Burton Act,
• All Americans will need health Medicare/Medicaid, National
care services Health Insurance Standards Act,
• U.S. pays over 2 trillion/year on EMTLA, COBRA, Medicare
health care which is 16-18% GDP, Catastrophic Coverage Act, HIPAA,
more than any other western CHIP, Medicare Modernization Act
country • Many Presidents: Hoover,
• Supreme court affirmed the Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy,
constitutionality of the law Johnson, Nixon, Carter, Reagan,
in 2011 Clinton, G.W. Bush
• Obamacare continues to be a • Most Obamacare won’t be in place
source of debate and doubt until January 1, 2014, some even
later