States Again Ask High Court to Uphold Health Care Law

California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the U.S. Supreme Court to urge the court not to invalidate the federal health care reform law in its entirety if the court decides the minimum coverage provision is unconstitutional. Harris was joined by 10 other attorneys general in the filing.

The states argued in a previous brief that the minimum coverage provision is constitutional (see States File Brief in Support of Health Reform Law), but said in the current brief that if the court decides otherwise, the remainder of the PPACA—including measures that have already been implemented—should remain intact. . 

“This important reform is comprehensive and wide-reaching across the healthcare industry. It does everything from encourage Americans to enter the nursing profession to improve the quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries,” Attorney General Harris said. “Its real and lasting benefits have already taken effect in California and are making meaningful differences in the lives of millions of individuals.” 



Other states joining California in this brief are Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Vermont. The brief is also joined by the District of Columbia and the Governor of Washington.