A judge for the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas [official website] issued a preliminary injunction [text, PDF] Wednesday blocking a new federal rule that would prevent patients from using charitable assistance to buy private health insurance. The case was contesting a rule [text] issued by the Department of Health and Human Services [official website]. The Department of Justice [official website] argued against the injunction, contending it helped patients by requiring greater transparency in choices of coverage. The argument against these disclosures is that end stage renal dialysis patients will be driven to public insurance options, which in turn could lead them to lose coverage due to them receiving premium assistance.

This injunction comes at a time that health care is at the forefront of debate. Earlier this week the US House of Representatives [government website] approved legislation [JURIST report] which prohibited federal funds from being used towards abortions. Also this week Republican senators introduced [JURIST report] the first replacement bill for the Affordable Care Act. On Tuesday President Donald Trump [government website] reinstated [JURIST report] the Mexico City Policy which prevents NGO’s from receiving US funding if they provide or promote abortions. Last week a federal judge in Texas blocked [JURIST report] an attempt to defund Planned Parenthood.