PHOENIX (AP) — A judge ruled Wednesday that Gov. Jan Brewer can legally reduce enrollment in Arizona's Medicaid program to help balance the state budget.
The state has barred childless adults with incomes above the federal limit for Medicaid from either enrolling for the first time or re-enrolling in the state program. The partial enrollment freeze would save the state a projected $207 million this year.
Public-interest law firms sued on behalf of low-income Arizonans, arguing that the eligibility reductions, especially the one for childless adults, are prohibited because of state constitutional protections for voter-approved laws.
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In 2000, Arizona voters passed a ballot measure — Proposition 204 — to increase eligibility for the state's Medicaid program above federal minimums.
Brewer and other state officials contend the cuts are necessary to protect other vital state services that have been devastated by decreased revenue, and the 2000 law hinged on the availability of funding.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Mark Brain ruled Wednesday that Arizona's Legislature "does not have an enforceable duty to fund Proposition 204."
State officials estimate that the freezes will reduce enrollment by approximately 135,000 people in the first year. People who were already enrolled in the program by early July won't be affected unless they drop out and try to re-enroll.
Opponents have made two earlier attempts to halt Brewer's plan.
They first had asked the state Supreme Court in June to stop Brewer's plan, but the court turned away the challenge and refused to block the freeze.
The opponents then made similar filings in Maricopa County Superior Court. Earlier in the case, Brain refused to grant a request for a temporary restraining order, ruling that some of the challengers hadn't shown they would be irreparably harmed if the freeze were to take effect.
Their lawsuit, however, can still move forward.
Attorneys for the Center for Law in the Public Interest said Wednesday that they plan to take the case to the Arizona Court of Appeals.
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