The Supreme Court has scheduled arguments over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act for March 26, 27, and 28, reserving that entire week for arguments and conference on the matter.

The Court has reserved over five hours of argument time on four discrete issues on the PPACA:

• Whether court action is premature and must wait until after the mandate takes effect in 2014 and Americans are charged a penalty for not having coverage
• Whether Congress overstepped its authority by requiring all Americans to buy health insurance by 2014 or pay a penalty (the "individual mandate")
• Whether the law can survive if the individual mandate is struck down
• Whether Congress improperly coerced states to expand the Medicaid program and participate in health care reform by threatening to cut of federal funds

With arguments set for March, in all likelihood the Court will issue a final decision on the PPACA by July, shortly before the election in November.

The Supreme Court cases are National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, No. 11-393; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services v. Florida, No. 11-398; and Florida v. Department of Health and Human Services, No. 11-400.

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