Experts to Examine the ACA and Health Reform at U.Va.’s Constitution Day Event

Since passage fours years ago, the Affordable Care Act has been debated in the public sphere and in the courts. Several court cases have overruled or upheld parts of the act, including the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, which struck down a contraceptive mandate due to the corporation’s claim of religious objection.

Following on the heels of the Hobby Lobby decision, a three-judge panel of the federal D.C. Circuit struck a blow to the ACA this July in Halbig v. Burwell. However, just a few hours later, a three-judge panel from the Fourth Circuit reached an opposite conclusion in King v. Burwell, siding with the federal government.

Most recently, the Obama administration requested and was granted a review of the Halbig ruling by the full D.C. Circuit, a hearing that will take place in December. Meanwhile, the King plaintiffs have appealed the Fourth Circuit’s ruling to the Supreme Court.]

On Wednesday at 12:30 p.m., the University of Virginia’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy will host a University-wide Constitution Day program, “Health Reform and the ACA: The Courts and the Constitution.” The panel discussion will take place from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Garrett Hall’s Great Hall. Lunch will be provided.

Moderated by Batten School professor Eric Patashnik, the panel will feature:

• Timothy Jost, Professor, Washington & Lee University School of Law
Jost was a signatory to an amicus brief in support of the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act’s minimum coverage requirement. He has been named “one of the top 10” experts in the nation to watch on ACA implementation.

• Sidney Milkis, Professor, U.Va. Woodrow Wilson Department of Politics; Faculty Associate, Miller Center
Milkis will provide context for the debate around health care by putting the battles in a larger historical perspective and by looking at past struggles over reform legislation during the Progressive, New Deal and Great Society eras.

• Margaret “Mimi” Riley, Professor, U.Va. School of Law
Riley has written and presented extensively about health care law, biomedical research, genetics, reproductive technologies, stem cell research, animal biotechnology, health disparities and chronic disease. She and Jost were recently featured in an article about court rulings.

No RSVP is necessary, but seating is limited.