Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with a coalition of 19 attorneys general, has filed an amicus brief in support of vacating the Trump Administration's 2020 federal rule that strips nondiscrimination protections in Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In the brief, Attorney General Bonta emphasized the importance of upholding the nondiscrimination protections of Section 1557 to ensure equitable access to health care.

Bonta stated, "Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act was a landmark provision ensuring expanded access to health care... Despite the Trump Administration’s efforts to roll back these critical protections, this coalition underscores our ongoing commitment to ensuring uninterrupted access to high-quality care for all."

The Rule issued by the Trump Administration in June 2020 has been challenged by a group of civil rights and reproductive health advocacy organizations, arguing that it is arbitrary and capricious and contrary to law under the Administrative Procedure Act. The plaintiffs emphasize the serious health and social harms the Rule imposes on underserved populations.

The amicus brief filed by Attorney General Bonta and the coalition supports the plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment, pointing out various issues with the Rule, including improperly narrowing the entities covered by Section 1557, removing protections for transgender individuals, exceeding agency authority, and being arbitrary and capricious by failing to consider the harmful impacts.

Attorney General Bonta has been actively involved in supporting health care rights and access for all individuals, particularly marginalized communities. He has led various coalitions in filing amicus briefs in support of transgender rights and equal access to health care, demonstrating a commitment to safeguarding the health care rights of all.

Joining Bonta in this effort are attorneys general from Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia. Their collective goal is to ensure that federal nondiscrimination protections are upheld and that equitable access to health care is maintained for all individuals.