This week the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
ruled
on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA)
provision, known as the individual mandate, which requires
individuals to have the basic level of health coverage. In a 2-1
decision the federal judges ruled the individual mandate
requirement was unconstitutional.
The constitutionality of the ACA’s individual mandate was at the
core of this case, and whether or not eliminating the mandate
would invalidate the entire ACA. In April, the California State
Association of Counties (CSAC) joined local government entities
and several states from across the country, to file an amicus brief.
The brief focused on how the ACA is critical to reducing local
government indigent health costs and enables local government to
provide better care. The brief also describes how unwinding the
ACA would lead to catastrophic health care costs, chaos, and
disruption.
In this week’s decision the Fifth Circuit Appellate Court did not
decide if the ACA could stand without the individual mandate, but
ruled to have the Texas lower court do additional analysis. In
Texas v. United States the lower court invalidated the ACA,
setting the appellate case in motion.
While litigation and uncertainty on the future of the ACA
continues, Californians will continue receiving the services and
high-quality care they are entitled to. Working closely with our
state and federal partners, CSAC will continue to monitor any new
developments and keep you apprised of advocacy efforts.
