Supreme Court Upholds Healthcare Law

In a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court voted yesterday to uphold the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Prevention measures within the ACA, such as the Prevention and Public Health Fund and the National Prevention Strategy, will help create safe and drug free communities across the country. 

The ACA includes substance use disorders as one of the ten elements of essential health benefits. Health insurance sold on Health Insurance Exchanges or provided by Medicaid to certain newly eligible adults starting in 2014 must include services for substance use disorders. Within the ACA, more services will be available and become more affordable for individuals that have addiction disorders. These services include treatment for substance use disorder services, prescription drugs, rehabilitative, habilitative, and prevention and wellness services.