by Aundrea Cline-Thomas
NASHVILLE, Tenn.- Small business owner Charles Stubblefield has built Satellites Unlimited from the ground up.
"I've been in business since 1983 so I've weathered quite a few storms," Stubblefield said.
A new concern is on the horizon, it's the unknown about how the healthcare reform law will affect his bottom line.
"How deep? How wide? To what degree? What our options might be. What our cost might be in taxes," are some of the questions he's asking.
Without clear answers plans to expand and hire more employees, Stubblefield says, are on hold at least for now.
"We just went through a scale down. Now we're seeing an up tick in business and trying to find more and better people," said. "And now we have the healthcare mandate coming down the line here in the next year or two so that gives us obviously cause for concern."
Meanwhile many healthcare advocates are calling the Supreme Court's ruling a victory
"Lack of healthcare kills, it maims (and) it disables," United Neighborhood Health Services CEO Mary Bufwack said.
Under the law uninsured patients like Paul Bennett could qualify for Medicaid.
"When I got here by blood pressure was out of control. My diabetes was out of control. So this place is essential for me," Bennett said.
For now he relies on the Downtown Clinic for all of his healthcare needs. It serves 4,000 patients a year and 96% do not have insurance.
"Without this I don't know where I would go. General Hospital I suppose," he said.
Going to the hospital for the uninsured is a costly alternative, one healthcare leaders say the new law addresses.
"For people without health insurance this act will save their lives," Bufwack added. "It will reduce healthcare costs enormously across the board."
Two different industries, two different responses, both are waiting to see what it all means in the end.
"Hunker down if you will. See how it plays out," Stubblefield advises. "See how the state of Tennessee looks at it and what they're going to implement and whatever direction. And hope for the best."
