Maryland asks court to declare ACA constitutional

Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh yesterday filed a federal lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgment that the Affordable Care Act is constitutional and the federal government must stop taking actions to dismantle it. In February, 20 Republican-led states asked a federal court in Texas to declare the ACA unconstitutional because the Tax Cut and Jobs Act repealed the tax penalty enforcing the law’s individual mandate. In June, the Department of Justice told the court that it would no longer defend key provisions of the ACA, including ones that require individuals to have health insurance and protect consumers with pre-existing medical conditions. “We are taking action to protect and ensure health care coverage for every Marylander and all Americans,” Frosh said.