Amicus: California v. Texas, U.S. Supreme Court

The National Health Law Program and ten other organizations filed an amicus brief opposing a group of states’ effort to invalidate the Affordable Care Act, including the Medicaid expansion and other provisions designed to improve the Medicaid program. Texas and twelve other states arguing that the ACA’s minimum coverage provision was unconstitutional and argued that the entire ACA should be struck down with that provision. This amicus brief sets forth the history and purpose of the Medicaid Act and explains how it has improved the lives of hundreds of millions of Americans over its 55-year history.  It details the specific populations who have benefitted from Medicaid coverage, including women, children, people of color, rural populations, and LGBT individuals. It further argues that the Medicaid provisions in the ACA are completely separate from the minimum coverage provision and should not be struck down, regardless of the decision the court reaches on the provision’s constitutionality.