Woodwinds hospital on board with health care ruling

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the federal Affordable Care Act was received warmly by officials at Woodwinds Health Campus.

Roger Green, vice president of strategy, policy, marketing and communications at HealthEast Care System, said that while the health care law “may not be the perfect package,” it will provide care for more Americans.

“These are exciting times in health care,” he said.

Green, who will be retiring in July, said he has witnessed four major efforts in health care during his 38 years in the field.

“The current move holds the greatest promise that we’ve yet seen,” he said.

The decision upholds the law’s most controversial provision – a mandate requiring almost all Americans to buy health insurance.

Green said the outcome of the mandate means fewer federal Medicare dollars flowing into hospitals since the number of uninsured patients will decline. But, he noted, the Affordable Care Act also provides funds to backfill those anticipated reductions.

“It was good for us in that respect,” Green said.

He also hailed a portion of the massive bill that prohibits providers from turning away patients with pre-existing conditions. Green said that provision means more of those patients won’t be turning to emergency room visits – as many do now – “and hopefully will be receiving care sooner.”

He said officials from HealthEast Care System – Woodwinds’ parent organization – had prepared for the possibility that the Supreme Court would overturn major provisions in the law.

That, Green said, would have meant setbacks to what he called long-awaited reforms.

“It would have potentially thrown a wet blanket on the federal efforts,” he said.

Not everyone was applauding the high court’s decision.

Among Republicans in Minnesota, criticism of the decision came fast and furious.

‘Obamacare’ denounced

Former presidential candidate Michele Bachmann, a conservative Republican Minnesota congresswoman, said the ruling “raises the stakes for the coming months.”

“Now, the only way to save the country from Obamacare’s budget-busting government takeover of health care is to completely repeal it,” said Bachmann, whose 6th District includes Woodbury.

On CNN, Bachmann called the decision “a turning point in American history. We will never be the same again.”

Bachmann, chairwoman of the House Tea Party Caucus, was in the courtroom as the opinion was read.

Republicans want to capitalize on the decision to get donations for their candidates, pledging to repeal what they call “Obamacare.” Democrats said they need funds to keep their own in power and keep the Affordable Care Act in force.

Minnesota Capitol Bureau Chief Don Davis contributed to this report