Update on Legal Challenges to Health Reform

News Type:

News Article

April 2, 2010

The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, a conservative political advocacy group that opposes health reform has joined the legal effort of 14 State Attorneys General to overturn the recently passed health reform legislation by filing suit in the Federal District Court of the District of Columbia.

Charging that the health reform law exceeds federal authority to regulate interstate commerce, the states also claim that reform infringes on state sovereignty by regulating insurance and imposes an unconstitutional tax. One state, Virginia, also challenges the requirement that individuals obtain health insurance arguing the provision violates its recently passed state law banning such insurance mandates.

In total, 14 states have sued the federal Government. Florida, South Carolina, Nebraska, Texas, Utah, Louisiana, Alabama, Michigan, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Washington State, Idaho and South Dakota have filed suit in one case in Florida’s federal district court. Virginia has filed a separate suit in its federal district court.

National Coalition on Health Care

1120 G Street, NW Suite 810, Washington, DC 20005

Tel: 202.638.7151 Fax: 202.638.7166