The future of the health-care overhaul law hinges on a decision by the Supreme Court in 2012; the court will hear a case challenging the law’s constitutionality over three days starting March 26, with a decision expected by the end of June. Meantime, though, more provisions of the law are due to be implemented next year. The Kaiser Family Foundation counts 10 such provisions , eight of which it says are in progress already. Among them: Lowering rebates to Medicare Advantage plans and providing bonus payments to high-quality plans . Allowing providers to form accountable care organizations , intended to let them better coordinate care of Medicare beneficiaries. In October, the Obama administration loosened the rules for the program

after providers complained about the early version. Lowering reimbursement for preventable hospital readmissions . Hospitals have been gearing up for the change, as the WSJ’s Informed Patient column reported earlier this year. In 2011, 20 provisions were due to go into effect, including the so-called medical loss ratio and discounts for Medicare prescription-drug beneficiaries who hit the “doughnut hole.” The major provisions of the law, however, including the controversial individual mandate to purchase coverage and requirement that insurers accept all comers, don’t take effect until 2014 — if the law isn’t struck down or repealed. Here’s the Obama Administration’s timeline for the implementation of the law.

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The Health-Law Provisions Being Implemented in 2012