Advocates praise, opponents knock health care law

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The federal health care overhaul law won praise and criticism at the South Carolina Statehouse on its first anniversary.

Advocates, including a small business owner, held a news conference Wednesday at the Statehouse and said the legislation is making health care more affordable for people.

But an expert from BlueCross and BlueShield of South Carolina warned a Senate panel that costs for consumers would rise and insurers will take on more risk.

South Carolina’s insurance and Medicaid agencies are developing plans to comply with the law.

The law faces legal challenges.

South Carolina and 25 other states are fighting the law in federal court. An 11th Circuit Court of Appeals hearing this spring will decide whether a Florida judge’s decision that found the law unconstitutional will stand.
  
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)