In July, just after the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold most provisions of the Affordable Care Act, Brentwood-based Jarrard, Phillips, Cate & Hancock asked Nashville-area hospital officials what that decision would mean to their organizations:

• Seventy-three percent said they were making no operational or budgetary decisions based on the Supreme Court ruling, largely because they had already planned for it and were busy implementing their strategy.
• More than 53 percent of survey participants said the upcoming presidential election would turn into a referendum on health care law and muddy the water for months to come.
• Thirty-four percent predicted the Affordable Care Act will be stalled in the Senate this time next year.