WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Leaders at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center in Woodbridge are unclear on how to react to the landmark decision today to uphold President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform law.
The healthcare organization that purchased Woodbridge’s Potomac Hospital in 2009 and changed its name to Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center in April, says advances in technology and their sheer size will best position them adapt to the healthcare mandate that requires every U.S. citizen to purchase medical insurance.
‘It’s difficult to predict the far reaching results of today’s ruling. But what the U.S. Supreme Court decision doesn’t change is our strategic direction. Sentara is well positioned for the ripples of this decision because of our vision and strength as an integrated system,” stated Sentara CEO Dave Bernd in a press release.
It’s not just healthcare professionals who are reacting. Unsurprisingly, local politicians have also chimed on the decision.
“The ruling means more than 837,000 Virginians receiving Medicare – seniors and the disabled – including 56,000 of them in the 11th District, will receive free preventative services including colonoscopies and mammograms. It means nearly 3 million Virginians, more than 330,000 in the 11th District, with cancer or other chronic conditions will never again have to worry about arbitrary annual or lifetime limits on coverage. And it means that young adults will be able to remain on their parents’ health insurance policies until age 26,” stated Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Fairfax, Prince William.
Overall the high court upheld the law, and likened it to others that give Congress the ability to levy taxes on citizens. Many Republicans who denounced the president’s healthcare law say it’s up to voters to elect candidates to Washington who, now through the legislative process, will vote to repeal the law.
“Be careful what you wish for…now the ‘government’ is on a path to tell you what you must and must not do, whether you like it or not. As Justice Kennedy stated, the role between the citizen and the state has now fundamentally changed. The battle is now on to fight for the foundation of our government; the power is derived from the people,” Stafford County Board of Supervisors Chairman Susan Stimpson posted to her Facebook page.
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