Community Health Options' $23M suit to move forward

LEWISTON — A federal judge has ruled that Community Health Options, Maine's only health insurance co-op, can proceed with its $22.9 million lawsuit against the federal government.

The Department of Justice had asked to stay the co-op's lawsuit, saying the government was dealing with several similar suits and it wanted to hold Community Health Options' until those active cases could be handled.

The co-op argued that the federal government was essentially seeking to put off the lawsuit indefinitely and it didn't have that right.

Judge James Merow of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C., ruled Friday in Community Health Options' favor, saying simultaneous litigation is common and the federal government is not overburdened by facing multiple similar lawsuits.

Read more: http://www.sunjournal.com/news/business/2016/12/05/community-health-options-23-million-suit-can-move-forward/2040533