Hospital groups seek OK to file brief supporting health-reform law

Six prominent hospital and health-system associations have submitted a motion in federal district court asking for permission to file a friend-of-the-court brief in support of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The groups, including the American Hospital Association, the Catholic Health Association of the United States and the Federation of American Hospitals, contend that they have a vested interest in the outcome of a lawsuit brought by officials from 20 states that challenges the constitutionality of the health reform law.

"The ACA represents a comprehensive effort to extend coverage to millions more Americans to make care available to patients in doctor's offices, clinics and other settings, keeping them out of emergency departments unless they need to receive care there," the groups said in the motion. "For these reasons, the hospitals associations and their members arguably will be more directly affected by the decision in this case than any other institutional group in the nation."

The move comes after 19 healthcare groups, including Families USA and AARP, filed a similar motion in support of the law and Republican lawmakers sought to file a brief against the reform law.