[20210621]LSB10610_最高法院驳回加州诉德克萨斯州对《平价医疗法案》的质疑.pdf

CRS Legal Sidebar Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Legal SidebarLegal Sidebari i Supreme Court Dismisses Challenge to the Affordable Care Act in California v. Texas Updated June 21, 2021 On June 17, 2021, the Supreme Court issued its decision in California v. Texas, one of the most closely watched cases of this term. At stake in California was the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Acts (ACAs) requirement for individuals to maintain health insurance (known as the “individual mandate”) and the continued validity of the remainder of the comprehensive Act. In a 7-2 decision, the Court dismissed the lawsuit on the grounds that the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue. The Court did not reach the merits of the challenge, thereby leaving the ACA intact. This Sidebar provides background on the California case, examines the Courts decision, and concludes with selected legal considerations for Congress. Background Enacted in 2010, one of the ACAs primary goals was to “increase the number and share of Americans who are insured.” In addition to providing income-based subsidies to facilitate the purchase of health insurance and increasing the scope of M