Oklahoma uses federal suit to fight ACA

Oklahoma, perhaps the most conservative state in the union, is taking extra steps to avoid implementing the Affordable Care Act, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt is leading the last state challenge against the ACA in federal court. The action claims the wording of the law should preclude residents of states not running their own exchanges from obtaining tax subsidies to purchase coverage.

"Folks want something to be done because they are fearful," Pruitt told the Times. He added that his lawsuit might be the "last best hope" to topple the ACA.

Should Pruitt prevail in federal court, it could affect other states that are not operating their own health insurance exchanges, but an adjudication of the lawsuit could be years away.

Media Matters observed that Pruitt's legal argument "is making is an extremely strained reading of what is, at worst, an unintended ambiguity in the ACA."

Many anti-ACA states are disseminating information intended to discourage participation in the ACA.

Meanwhile, the Sooner State's steadfast refusal to disseminate any information about the healthcare law has left its residents confused, according to the Times. Some have said money to pay from insurance coverage would be taken out of their Social Security or disability checks.

"No two people comprehend it the same way. You're hearing one thing. I'm hearing another. He's hearing another," Dave Minyard told the Times, convinced the ACA will force him to shut down his livestock auction business.

To learn more:
- read the Los Angeles Times article
- here's the Media Matters blog post

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