Nov 2, 2007 4:25 pm US/Pacific
Lawsuit Over SF Health Plan Goes To Federal Court
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ―
A federal judge heard arguments Friday on whether employers in San Francisco should be required to help pay for a new city program designed to provide basic health care for uninsured residents.
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White heard from attorneys for the city, labor unions and a local restaurant owner's group. The Golden Gate Restaurant Association is seeking an injunction to block the employer mandate from taking effect on January 1.
The association claims that forcing businesses with more than 20 workers to pay into the system violates a 1974 federal law.
That measure prohibits states and cities from imposing laws that create inconsistencies in the health coverage afforded employees who work for the same company but live in different jurisdictions.
Lawyers for the city say San Francisco's plan doesn't do that because it targets employees who do not already subsidize health coverage for their workers.
Unlike insurance, the Healthy San Francisco plan allows enrolled residents to get medical exams and other health services only at participating clinics and hospitals within the city.
More than three thousand residents have enrolled in the program since it launched in July and the city hopes to enroll another 25 thousand by next summer.
After taking the issue under advisement, Judge White said his ruling would probably establish legal precedent because San Francisco's program was so novel.
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