MDNews - Mid Hudson

FEATURE 2012: Looking Back, Moving Forward HEALTH CARE IN AMERICA HAS CHARTED AN UNEVEN COURSE DURING THE LAST DECADE. AS 2013 LOOMS LARGE ON THE HORIZON, LEADERS AND LAWMAKERS ARE STRUGGLING TO BRING HEALTH CARE DELIVERY UP TO PAR. A BATTLE OF MANY wills has been pulling the U.S. health care system in every direction. With the arrival of the Obama administration in 2008 and the passing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) in 2010, the gears of the health care machine ���nally seemed to be moving. But an uncertain economy continues to undermine progress, and voters have become increasingly jaded about the likelihood of a permanent health care solution being reached. Turning the Elusive Corner In a 5-to-4 ruling this past June, the U.S. Supreme Court voted to uphold the individual mandate requiring Americans to buy health insurance or pay a ���penalty,��� a central component of the PPACA. Other mandates of the act will continue to be upheld, such as: + People younger than 26 can still be covered by their parents��� health insurance plans. + The government will continue to back Medicare. + Insurance companies can���t deny anyone coverage because of a pre-existing condition. While these provisions are designed to ensure every U.S. citizen has health insurance, the jury is still out on their effectiveness. As a case in point, 50 million Americans are without health insurance. Pundits from both sides offer differing explanations. Some say the PPACA is inherently flawed, while others argue the lack of results comes down to delays in the implementation of the PPACA. With political standoffs slowing progress, the light at the end of the health care reform tunnel still looks dim.

• Cover