CSAC, Other Local Jurisdictions File Amicus Brief in Attempt to Protect ACA

This week, the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) and 35 cities and counties throughout the country filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit for the case State of Texas v. United States, which may determine the future of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Recall, in December 2018, Texas Federal District Court Judge Reed O’Connor struck down the ACA on the grounds that the individual health insurance mandate was unconstitutional and the remaining ACA provisions could not stand without the individual mandate. California, along with other states, swiftly filed a motion, ultimately resulting in Judge O’Connor issuing a stay on his order, allowing the ACA to stand while litigation moves forward. Last week, the Trump Administration reversed course and formally requested the federal court to strike down the ACA in its entirety.

The amicus brief filed by CSAC and other local jurisdictions explains the critical importance of the ACA in reducing local government indigent health care costs and enabling local governments to provide better care and services. The brief further describes how unwinding the ACA would lead to catastrophic health care costs, chaos, and disruption for residents, jurisdictions, and the entire health system.

Judge O’Connor’s ruling invalidating the entire ACA remains on a temporary hold while the matter is considered by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans. Further developments on the case are expected over the coming months.