State of Florida et al. v. Department of Health and Human Services et al.

Why this Matters:

The plaintiffs allege that enforcing the Affordable Care Act’s nondiscrimination protections related to providing gender-affirming care or coverage for such care violates the Administrative Procedure Act, the Spending Clause, the First Amendment, as well as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The Affordable Care Act protects against discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. People who fall in those categories have historically faced various difficulties accessing health care services and have faced worse health outcomes. In this appeal, plaintiffs challenge the district court’s ruling that the case is moot.

Potential Impact:

Eroding the Affordable Care Act’s nondiscrimination protections would exacerbate the challenges faced by marginalized groups, especially LGBTQI+ people, in accessing needed services and care and further widen health gaps.