Supreme Court decision could boost Henry Schein

The landmark Supreme Court decision upholding the crux of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul could be a boon Henry Schein Inc., Long Island’s largest public company by sales.

If it works as intended, the Affordable Care Act will enable more Americans to get regular checkups and physicals. That means doctors and dentists will need more rubber gloves, tongue depressors, syringes and scores of other products delivered by Henry Schein, a global distributor of medical, dental and veterinary supplies.

“As this shift ultimately drives more Americans to seek preventative care from our customers, Henry Schein benefits, as we provide the products and services practitioners need to operate their practices efficiently and provide the highest quality care,” chief executive Stanley Bergman said.

The trend of more Americans having regular checkups has actually been underway for years. Baby boomers, the most affluent and educated generation in history, have led the way in dutifully visiting doctors and dentists. That’s been good for their overall health, medical experts say.

It’s also been good for Henry Schein, whose profits have boomed since it went public in 1995.

“The demographics are in our favor,” Bergman said in an interview last month. “Baby boomers know it is important to have preventative care.”