PHOENIX (AP) – The Arizona Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed a lawsuit challenging Gov. Jan Brewer’s Medicaid expansion plan to move forward, a decision that deals a major blow to the governor’s signature achievement just days before she leaves office.
The high court agreed that 36 Republican lawmakers can sue Brewer over the legality of a hospital assessment that funds the expansion plan.
The ruling means Brewer’s plan to insure about 300,000 poor Arizonans using a key part of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul could eventually be crippled as she hands the governor’s office to fellow Republican Doug Ducey.
Brewer, who leaves office Jan. 5, said in a statement that she was “naturally disappointed” in the ruling but hopeful she will eventually prevail.
“I am abundantly confident that Arizona will ultimately prevail, and that the state will be able to focus on implementing one of the most meaningful and critical health care policies in years – the restoration of crucial, cost-effective care to thousands of Arizonans,” Brewer said.