In late March, the United States Supreme Court held three days of hearings on challenges to the Affordable Care Act, the health care reform bill enacted by Congress in March 2010. Following numerous lawsuits in federal appeals courts across the nation challenging several key provisions of the law, many of which were dismissed, the Supreme Court agreed to consider the legality of several provisions of the law, including the individual mandate and the Medicaid expansion. A decision is expected in June.

In North Carolina, the North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM), with support from a group of health funders, has been leading efforts to convene stakeholder working groups to help identify the decisions the state must make to implement the Affordable Care Act. On July 12 from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm NCNG will convene a conference call for the NCNG Health Funders Networking Group to hear from Dr. Pam Silberman, CEO and president of the NCIOM, about the US Supreme Court decision and implications for North Carolina and opportunities for funders.