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The article discusses the aspects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) signed by U.S. President Barack Obama. It states that under this law, health plans will be required to render a report of their medical loss ratios (MLR). Furthermore, it notes that under the new guidelines, health plans that fail to comply the minimum requirements will have to provide rebates.

The article discusses an analysis on healthcare costs offered by the U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO). It states that CBO estimated that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act costs 940 billion dollars, while medicare sustainable growth rate (SGR) saves 157 million dollars. It also mentions that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act proposes methods that will save money for the medicare program.

The article discusses the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signed by President Barack Obama into law on March 23, 2010, which creates the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), inclusing in the healthcare reform in the U.S. It explains that IPAB is created as a response to the uncontrolled escalating costs of Medicare expenditures. However, American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) lobbies the inclusion of the IPAB in the healthcare reform legislation.

The article offers information on the historical and present context of delivering health care in the U.S. It details the evolution of the reform program from the time of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt in 1900 to the time of President Barack Obama in 2010. It notes that the path of healthcare delivery in the U.S. has taken many turns over the years, but collaborative efforts among physicians, hospitals, and politicians could help map out future reforms.

The article focuses on the expanded coverage of Patient and Affordable Care Act in the U.S. It discusses several coverage rules incorporated at the legislation bill, aiming that most Americans will be covered of health insurance and subsidize those low-income individuals. However, the legislation bill, which was to be finalized in 2014, was allegedly earning issues, including the criteria for the eligible individual and insurers, and its impact on medical practitioners and cost of medical care.

The article reports on the increase in the number of physicians practicing positive defensive medicine in the U.S. A survey reveals that 92.5% of surgeons have ordered imaging tests to protect themselves from lawsuits, and they attributed 34% of overall healthcare costs to defensive medicine. Also, 42% of physicians have restricted their practice to avoid risky procedures, patients with complex conditions, and patients perceived to be litigious.