D.C. Appeals Court Upholds Short-Term Plan Rule
A Trump administration rule expanding the availability of short-term, limited duration (STLD) health insurance plans will continue after an appeals court panel ruled 2-1 against a suit brought by the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP). A July 17 statement by ACAP CEO Margaret Murray suggests the trade group for safety net health plans is likely to continue pursuing the case.
“We are disappointed in the court’s decision but remain firm in our belief that junk insurance plans violate both the Affordable Care Act and the Administrative Procedure Act,” Murray wrote in the statement. ACAP has the option of petitioning the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to hear the case en banc, which would bring every member of the circuit’s bench together to hear the suit again. Murray’s statement indicates ACAP is likely to pursue that option. “We’re confident the full D.C. Circuit will agree,” Murray added.