A survey of more than 200 local health care leaders by the Jarrard Phillips Cate & Hancock public affairs firm offers an interesting, albeit skeptical, take on the Supreme Court’s recent decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act. More than half think the upcoming presidential election will do little more than “muddy the waters” as each party seeks to make the ruling a referendum on its agenda. Another 34 percent predict the act will stall in the Senate next year.

Perhaps most meaningfully, the majority of those surveyed — 73 percent — won’t make any budgetary or operational decisions based on what’s been decided thus far. A few other things should occur, though. About two-thirds say the “bigger is better” mantra will continue as consolidations and acquisitions across the industry are expected.

The bottom line is that, overall, little clarity was achieved by the ruling as the political process must now iron itself out, the respondents indicated. Click here for the survey’s details.