By Byron Schlomach and Christina Sandefur
The United States Supreme Court ruling in NFIB v. Sebelius effectively made state policymakers the last line of defense against the federal takeover of the nation’s health care industry. Although it ruled that the federal government cannot coerce states into expanding their Medicaid programs, the Court allowed the federal government to tax individuals who do not obtain government-approved health insurance policies. That decision, despite opening the door to federal regulation, also means that state legislatures are in a unique position to adopt meaningful health care reform policies.
