/ Modified mar 22, 2012 10:34 a.m.

U.S. Supreme Court Hearings: Affordable Healthcare Act

NPR 89.1 FM/1550 AM will provide extensive coverage as US. Supreme Court justices consider the constitutionality of the Affordable Healthcare Act. Beginning Wednesday March 21.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 21
All Things Considered at 3:30 p.m.:
Misunderstanding the Health Law– March 23rd is the second anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act. But just days before the law is presented to the Supreme Court, public opinion is running decidedly against what should be President Obama's crowning legislative achievement. NPR's Julie Rovner looks at how the administration lost the messaging war.

THURSDAY MARCH 22
Morning Edition at 5 a.m.:
Legal Primer– As we look ahead to the unprecedented three days of arguments next week by the Supreme Court over the federal health law, Ari Shapiro talks with Morning Edition hosts Steve Innskeep and Renee Montagne about the fundamental issues to be discussed.
What if the Mandate is Killed? – More is at stake in the decision over the health law than just relieving Americans of a requirement to buy health insurance

Talk of the Nation at 11 a.m.: Host Neal Conan talks with NPR reporters Nina Totenberg, Julie Rovner, and others on latest developments.

All Things Considered at 3:30 p.m.: NPR’s Nina Totenberg presents a profile of Solicitor General Donald Verilli.

FRIDAY, MARCH 23
Morning Edition at 5 a.m.:
Impact of SCOTUS Decision on Insurers– What impact will the outcome of a SCOTUS decision have on the insurance industry? Big insurers say they don’t really care which way things go – they’re moving forward on everything from electronic health records to changing delivery systems to improve their bottom line.

All Things Considered at 3:30 p.m.
Q&A – NPR’s Julie Rovner answers listeners’ questions. She will cover individual mandate and what happens if it goes away plus other likely questions. In addition, Nina Totenberg provides a profile of opposing lawyer Paul Clement.

SATURDAY MARCH 24
Weekend Edition at 6 a.m.:
Uninsured in California – KQED Reporter Sarah Varney travels to Madera County, Calif., a largely conservative and agricultural region where unemployment remains stubbornly high at 14.7% and employers continue to shed health insurance benefits. Although many here say they want the Supreme Court to throw the federal law out, and all of its big government mandates, they are struggling to reconcile their political ideologies with the basic need for health insurance.

Weekend All Things Considered at 4 p.m.:
Free Health Clinics – Places that provide care to people who are uninsured, free of charge - are worried about their ability to stay afloat with rising health care costs. Elana Gordon from NPR member station KCUR reports, this could mean big changes in how these clinics operate - including less reliance on volunteers, and installing complicated computer systems for billing purpose.

SUNDAY MARCH 25
Weekend Edition at 6 a.m.:
Florida Gambles on Health Care Law– While most states are scrambling to comply with the Affordable Care Act, Florida has a different, high-stakes strategy. Florida Republican leaders are betting they’ll be successful in their legal fight to strike down the law. They’ve rejected and returned federal grants to help develop a healthcare exchange. They also haven’t applied for millions in federal dollars to begin expanding Medicaid. The irony, critics say, is that if the Supreme Court upholds the law or just leaves some parts of it in place, Florida may miss key deadlines and cede much of its healthcare planning to the federal government.

WEEK OF THE ARGUMENTS:

MONDAY March 26: SCOTUS Oral Arguments: Anti-injunction (Until you’re actually taxed, you can’t sue over a tax.)
Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Talk of the Nation will bring full news coverage of the oral arguments plus special audio coverage from Monday’s arguments. At 6 p.m. NPR’s Jennifer Ludden will host the daily wrap specials with edited highlights of the arguments before the justices.

TUESDAY March 27: SCOTUS Oral Arguments: Individual mandate –Is it constitutional?
Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Talk of the Nation will bring full news coverage of the oral arguments plus special audio coverage from Tuesday’s arguments. At 6 p.m. NPR’s Jennifer Ludden will host the daily wrap specials with edited highlights of the arguments before the justices.

WEDNESDAY March 28: SCOTUS oral arguments – 2 separate sessions
AM: Severability: If the mandate falls, what about the rest?
PM: Medicaid

Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Talk of the Nation will bring full news coverage of the oral arguments plus special audio coverage from Wednesday’s arguments.
At 6 p.m. NPR’s Jennifer Ludden will host the daily wrap specials with edited highlights of the arguments before the justices.

THURSDAY March 29: The Aftermath

Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Talk of the Nationwill bring a full wrap up of the SCOTUS decision.

NPR

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