CONCORD — Republican legislative leaders are touting their own health care reform ideas, in anticipation of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling this week that could cripple the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, as it is commonly known.

“It's time to start from scratch and build a new health care environment that focuses on quality, affordability and accountability,” said John Stephen, a former state Health and Human Services commissioner, at a State House news conference Tuesday.

He was joined by Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, and House Majority Leader Pete Silva, R-Nashua. All three are supporters of Republican candidate Mitt Romney, whose campaign organized the event.

The Supreme Court is set to issue its decision Thursday on the Affordable Care Act, which was passed in 2009 as one of President Obama's signature initiatives.

Based on hearings earlier this year, many court observers say the justices will likely overturn a key provision of the program, a mandate that individuals purchase health insurance.

Stephen said Obamacare would saddle New Hampshire with a billion dollars in new health care expenses by forcing it and other states to expand the Medicaid rolls.

Bradley stressed that state-level innovation, with support from Washington, was a better way to deal with health care reform. He pointed to tort reform legislation and a bill proposed this session that would allow businesses and individuals to purchase insurance across state lines.

“The bottom line is if we're going to have a health care system that works for Americans, we need to repeal this and then replace it,” Bradley said.

Silva alluded to the sheer size of the Affordable Care Act, a copy of which was placed next to the podium.

“Look at this — 2,700 pages,” he said. “For people like me who believe in smaller government, this is the epitome of large government.”

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Ted Seifer may be reached at tseifer@unionleader.com.