Government

Case challenges employer mandate

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Oct. 19, 2009

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The U.S. Supreme Court has asked the Obama administration to weigh in on a pending case testing San Francisco's universal care program.

The case centers on the Golden Gate Restaurant Assn.'s challenge to an ordinance under Healthy San Francisco. It requires employers to spend a certain amount on workers' health coverage or else pitch into the universal program's funding pool.

The high court invited the solicitor general to file a friend-of-the-court brief expressing the government's views, but justices have yet to accept the case for full review.

President Obama has expressed general support for such employer mandates. While he has not taken a position on San Francisco's program, he praised the effort in a February address to city mayors. "Instead of just talking about health care, mayors like Gavin Newsom in San Francisco have been ensuring that those in need receive it," Obama said.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/10/19/gvbf1019.htm.

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