Today, Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford announced his participation in a multistate coalition lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The lawsuit challenges a final rule by the Trump Administration that could hinder healthcare access under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The administration estimates that up to 1.8 million people may lose their health insurance due to this rule.
The contested rule excludes gender-affirming care from essential health benefits under the ACA. It also introduces amendments to federal and state health insurance marketplace regulations, potentially leading to increased premiums and out-of-pocket costs for many Americans.
Attorney General Ford expressed concerns about the impact on Nevada residents, stating: "This administration's rule would roll back years of progress in expanding healthcare access and threaten coverage for more than 100,000 Nevadans."
The ACA was enacted in 2010 to expand health insurance coverage and reduce healthcare costs. Despite achieving record enrollment numbers, with over 24 million people signing up for coverage in plan year 2025, the new rule threatens these gains by imposing additional barriers to enrollment.
In Nevada alone, ACA plan enrollment reached a record high of 110,000 individuals this year. The changes introduced by HHS could reverse this trend, increasing uninsured rates as new bureaucratic hurdles are imposed.
The attorneys general argue that the final rule is unlawful and would significantly harm states and their residents. They seek preliminary relief to prevent its implementation before its effective date on August 25.
Nevada Attorney General Ford joined counterparts from several other states including California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oregon Rhode Island Vermont Washington Wisconsin along with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro in filing this lawsuit.