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Health Groups Are Opposing The Multi-State Challenge Of Health Reform

Wonk Room Nov 19, 2010

Today is the deadline for proponents and critics of the Affordable Care Act to submit their friend-of-the court briefs in the multi-state Florida-led case thats challenging the constitutionality of the laws individual mandate and Medicaid expansion. In October, U.S. District Court Judge Roger Vinson dismissed three of the Plaintiffs claims, but allowed their challenge to the laws minimum coverage provision and a separate complaint about the laws Medicaid expansion provision to move forward.

Hearings in the case will begin on December 16th, but a comparison of the different groups that have submitted amicus briefs is telling. While health advocacy groups, disease-specific organizations, and health care providers are standing on the side of reform, the anti-reform column is dominated by politicians and at least two potential GOP presidential contenders (Pawlenty and Thune). In fact, supporters of the multi-state challenge were unable to attract a single health care organization to join in their effort: click here to see the chart

Joining Florida in its lawsuit are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Washington.