Gavel on flag “The final rule is clearly an end-run around the ACA,” the judge said. “The final rule was designed to expand access to AHPs in order to avoid the most stringent requirements of the ACA.” (Photo: Shutterstock)

One of President Donald Trump's health-care initiatives intended as a cheaper alternative to Obamacare suffered a crucial defeat when a judge ruled the policy violates the Affordable Care Act.

U.S. District Judge John Bates in Washington on Thursday blocked new rules governing so-called association health plans, or AHPs, which let businesses and individuals band together to create group health plans that offer less expensive coverage than the ACA — but without some of its protections.

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