U.S. Supreme Court Justices

In a much-awaited decision, the Supreme Court is expected to rule in late June on whether the nation’s new healthcare law is legal.

Repeal could affect long-term care operators in obvious and subtle ways. For example, an overturn would likely stop states from adding thousands of additional people to their Medicaid rolls. For long-term care operators, this would essentially mean less competition for scarce Medicaid funds.

However, the law’s repeal would also officially end the CLASS Act, which sets aside discretionary long-term care dollars. A provision establishing accountable care organizations would be at risk. ACOs are care- and risk-sharing Medicare programs that allow nursing homes to link with hospitals and physician groups.

Several other demonstration and grant programs set up by the law also would likely be mothballed if the justices rule unfavorably, according to several experts.