AUGUSTA, Ga. – The following is a statement from David S. Hefner, CEO of Georgia Health Sciences Medical Center and Executive Vice President of Clinical Affairs at Georgia Health Sciences University, regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling upholding the Affordable Care Act.

“As the state’s academic health center and a leading provider of specialized care, we provide approximately $100 million in uncompensated care and community benefit to the citizens of Georgia. Today’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, upholding most of the Affordable Care Act, will give 32 million people who are currently uninsured access to care they’ve never had. We are committed to helping them gain that access in the most seamless way possible. This decision by the courts allows us to move forward so that we can continue with the business of providing quality healthcare to Georgia and the Southeast.

It is important to note, however, that with this increase of people seeking health care, the impending physician shortage will become a quick reality. Without funding for graduate medical education, we simply will not be able to produce enough doctors for the state of Georgia, which is the 9th fastest growing state in the country, but ranks 41st in physicians per capita.”