HCR Update from Mark Sanna: The Supreme Court ruling yesterday clears the way for the biggest revamp of America's health-care system since the 1960s—and sets the stage for a renewed political fight over its merits. By a 5-4 vote, the court held the law's mandate requiring Americans to carry health insurance or pay a penalty valid under Congress's constitutional authority to levy taxes.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: Supreme Court 5-4 decision affirms individual mandate. Chief Justice John Roberts writes the majority opinion upholding the law's central provision requiring that all people have health insurance.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: Expecting the Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of the health law today, tension is thick. President Obama will react to the Supreme Court ruling shortly after the opinion is issued. I think we can expect a flurry of activity this morning.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: With the court's decision on the law set for Thursday, nearly four in 10 Americans told a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll that they would have "mixed feelings" if the justices struck down the whole law. Just over a quarter said they would be very pleased, while 17% said they would be very disappointed by that outcome.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: The Supreme Court announced on Monday that it would issue the rest of its decisions for its current term on Thursday, making it very likely that a decision on the comprehensive law overhauling health care will come that day.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: Anticipation regarding the Supreme Court's health law decision -- expected this week and possibly even today -- has created a guessing-game situation in Washington. News outlets report on both the preparations being made and the reasons why this decision, and the challenge behind it, are historic and important.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: Indications are the Supreme Court's much-anticipated ruling on the health law may come on Wednesday or Thursday. However, the court is also scheduled to hand down decisions on Monday.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: If the Supreme Court strikes down President Barack Obama's signature health care reform law, 77% of Americans want the president and Congress to work on new legislation overhauling the system, according to a new AP-GfK poll on Wednesday.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: The Supreme Court ruled Monday that drug companies don't have to pay their sales representatives for working overtime hours, a significant win for the pharmaceutical industry. The court, in a 5-4 opinion by Justice Samuel Alito, ruled that drug sales reps fall under a provision of federal labor law that removes overtime-pay requirements for those employed as outside salespeople.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: For the last 27 months, the health-care industry has been operating under the assumption that everyone has to get insurance, and insurers have to accept everyone who wants it. That all could be undone as early as Monday, when Supreme Court is expected to issue its rulings on the 2010 health-care overhaul measure.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: The USDA released its annual report Thursday on how much it costs to raise a child. The grand total for a child born in 2011 is $234,900 — $295, 560 if inflation is factored in — for all child-related expenses, from birth to age 17. That’s a 3.5% increase over last year.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: Despite a recent easing of medical costs, the nation's health care spending will keep outpacing economic growth for the foreseeable future, government experts said Tuesday in a forecast that signals more upheaval for Medicare and Medicaid, as well as private insurance.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: Three of the biggest U.S. health insurers said they plan to keep offering some benefits now required under the federal health overhaul legislation, even if the Supreme Court strikes down the entire law. Humana Inc., Aetna Inc. and UnitedHealth Group Inc. all said they would continue to allow young people to stay on their parents' plans until the age of 26, offer a third-party appeals process for coverage denials, and provide preventive benefits such as immunizations without any out-of-pocket expense for consumers.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: Attorney General Holder and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sebelius today released a new report showing that the government’s health care fraud prevention and enforcement efforts recovered nearly $4.1 billion in taxpayer dollars in Fiscal Year 2011. This is the highest annual amount ever recovered from individuals and companies who attempted to defraud seniors and taxpayers or who sought payments to which they were not entitled.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: While 6.6 million young people signed onto their parents' plans since the provision of the health law took effect, many still lacked coverage, according to a new Commonwealth Fund study. Cost, not a "young invincible" belief that they didn't need coverage, appears to be a key obstacle.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: The Walt Disney Company made two big announcements this morning. It's banning junk food ads on cartoons and other kid shows. That starts in 2015. And in just a few months, it will launch the Mickey Check.The mouse symbol will be slapped on foods in the grocery aisle that Disney approves as nutritious.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: The Supreme Court is expected to announce its ruling on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) this month, and with the countdown started speculation about the impact of that decision is heating up on both sides of the "Obamacare" debate.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: Mitt Romney's choice of Michael O. Leavitt as his transition chief has spurred loud opposition from some conservatives over Mr. Leavitt's support of a crucial part of President Obama's health care plan. Mr. Leavitt, a former governor of Utah who was secretary of health and human services in George W. Bush's cabinet, is now a health care consultant who advises states on how to implement Mr. Obama's health law.

HCR Update from Mark Sanna: If the Supreme Court strikes down any part of the Affordable Care Act, it's likely that health insurers and hospitals will see their stock prices tumble. And expect just the opposite if the high court leaves the 2010 reform measure alone.