"[A]nalysts were quick to characterize [the] Supreme Court decision as a ringing vindication of the Affordable Care Act and a big political victory for a struggling President Obama. However, on closer reading, the instant analysts were wrong. The Roberts Court actually punched a huge hole in the law, potentially reducing its historic coverage expansion by as much as a third. In addition, the Court's ruling will set off serious political conflict in southern and mid-western states that will ripple through those states' health care markets, and fracture hospitals' and health plans' support for health reform."  MORE >>