Mann Quoted in Bloomberg Law on Legal Implications of Bill Reducing Immigrant Health Coverage 

Manatt Health Partner  was quoted in Bloomberg Law discussing the uncertainty and legal implications of the latest federal spending bill that threatens health coverage for undocumented and certain other immigrants under the Medicaid program. The Senate parliamentarian recently struck this provision from the bill, determining that it did not follow the rules governing what can be included in a reconciliation bill.  

The updated bill planned to decrease federal funding to any states providing health care coverage to immigrants by reducing federal matching funds they receive for Medicaid, which would leave these states with increased costs. Based on the 10 Amendment, preventing the federal government from intruding on powers of state governments, a lawsuit could arise opposing this bill. Since a potential case would emerge in an underdeveloped area of law, a decision could be difficult to predict, according to Mann. “I don’t know of any historical parallels of the federal government taking away federal dollars because a state is doing something totally unrelated to a federal program with its state dollars,” she said. “There aren’t 30 cases that would help us be clear that states will win or states will lose.” 

Bloomberg Law subscribers can read the full article .