05.18.12 President Barack Obama signed the landmark Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, in March 2010. The rules and regulations of the act, which continue to evolve, are coming down from Washington, D.C. But the implications of those rules eventually may touch nearly everyone who provides, monitors, or consumes health care in the Capital Region.

Passions ran high on both sides of the argument over the contents of the act, and some lawmakers lost their jobs because of votes for it. But like it or not, it became the law of the land, and health care providers, insurers and officials have spent a lot of time over the past couple years adjusting to the changes and making sure they're ready for full implementation in 2014.