Chicago, Baltimore, Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, filed a joint lawsuit accusing the Trump administration of actively undermining the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
The cities maintain that the administration’s actions are unconstitutional because it is not carrying out the healthcare law, according to the complaint.
“President Trump and his Administration are waging a relentless campaign to sabotage and, ultimately, to nullify the law,” the suit reads.
Because Congress could not successfully repeal the ACA through the legislative process, the suit alleges, the Trump administration is “deliberately trying to make the [it] fail.”
The complaint cites efforts to curb enrollment in comprehensive healthcare plans, price increases, reduced options and misappropriating funds allocated by Congress to support the ACA as actions that are unlawful.
The suit was filed just days after the Trump administration announced a final rule to expand short-term health plans, allowing consumers to purchase policies that last up to 12 months, with renewal options up to 36 months. These plans, which were previously limited to three months and do not meet ACA requirements and protections, have been called “junk” insurance by critics, and industry and consumer groups have spoken out against the administration’s decision.
The complaint was filed in federal court in Baltimore on Thursday, Aug. 2. The cities base their claims that the constitutional system requires the President to faithfully implement the laws enacted by Congress, while the actions of the administration has sought to continually undermine the Act and harm Americans in the process. The lawsuit extensively quotes President Trump on his intent to get rid of the ACA.
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."