National Disability, Disease-Related and Aging Groups Seek to File Amicus Briefs in Florida Health Reform Case

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Association of People with Disabilities and 12 other leading national organizations dedicated to reducing the incidence and impact of major diseases, disorders, and disabilities today requested permission from a Florida Federal District Court to file a friend-of-the-court, or amicus curiae, brief supporting the constitutionality of the new health reform law.  

In their request, the groups wrote that they serve individuals "profoundly harmed by health insurers' practice of denying coverage to persons with pre-existing medical conditions and other abuses prohibited by the insurance reforms" in the law.  They said that there is a "need to couple insurance reform with a minimum coverage provision [or 'individual mandate' to carry insurance, that is under challenge from 20 Republican state officials in the lawsuit]," and that this need is "demonstrated by the actual experience of states which have tried to do otherwise and – without exception – failed."  

The signatories of the request to submit an amicus curiae brief, which is attached, are:

• The American Association of People with Disabilities
• The Arc of the United States
• Breast Cancer Action
• The Family Violence Prevention Fund,
• Friends of Cancer Research
• The March of Dimes Foundation
• Mental Health America,
• National Breast Cancer Coalition,
• The National Organization for Rare Disorders,
• The National Senior Citizens Law Center,
• The National Women's Health Network,
• Ovarian Cancer National Alliance.

SOURCE National Senior Citizens Law Center