A federal judge in Florida announced that a lawsuit could proceed that claims that requiring Americans to buy health insurance is unconstitutional. Twenty states are involved in the lawsuit. US District Judge Roger Vinson rejected an effort by the Obama administration to have the case thrown out, according to the Los Angeles Times. Vinson’s decision was similar to one made by a federal judge in Virginia. “To say that something is ‘novel’ or ‘unprecedented’ does not necessarily mean that it is ‘unconstitutional’ or ‘improper.’ There may be a first time thing for anything,” Vinson wrote in his 65-page ruling, according to the LA Times. Continuing he wrote, “the plaintiffs have at least stated a plausible claim that the line has been crossed.” Florida is leading the challenge to the new healthcare law and 19 states have joined including:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Colorado
• Georgia
• Indiana
• Idaho
• Louisiana
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• North Dakota
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Texas
• Utah
• Washington

Louisiana is the only state not led by a Republican attorney general or governor. “This ruling is a victory for the states, small businesses and the American people,” Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum said in a statement Thursday according to the LA Times. “It is the first step to having the individual mandate declared unconstitutional and upholding state sovereignty in our federal system.”

According to the American Medical News, spokeswoman Tracy Schmaler said the Dept. of Justice will continue to defend the new law and is confident their arguments will come out on top. “This case is in the early stages of litigation, and the department will continue to vigorously defend this law in ongoing litigation,” she said according to AMN. In Michigan, US District Judge George C. Steeh dismissed a third challenge arguing that the insurance requirement was unconstitutional. The next step comes December 16 when both sides will present their cases in a courtroom during a summary judgment hearing.

A proposed  health insurance rate hike in New Mexico prompted death threats against top staff at Blue Cross Blue Shield, according to TV station KOB. Extra security was hired to protect high ranking Blue Cross Blue Shield officials at a hearing held this week in Santa Fe. There were also four additional officers provided by the Public Regulation Commission, according to reports.

The hearing was held in response to Blue Cross Blue Shield’s request to regulators to approve a 21.3 percent rate increase on 12 of their insurance plans. The proposed hike would impact thousands of residents in New Mexico, according to KOB. State officials listened to information provided by the Attorney General’s office and Blue Cross Blue Shield about whether or not the hike was justified and necessary.

Towards the end of the hearing the public was allowed to provide their thoughts on the proposed increase. Many argued that it wasn’t necessary when Blue Cross Blue Shield has a reported reserve fund of about $7 billion, according to KOB. But Blue Cross Blue Shield argued that the $7 billion was for emergencies like pandemics and said that higher expenses warranted a rate hike. Company officials say they actually needed a 36 percent increase to break even, but settled on 21.3 percent increase. Officials aren’t expecting any decisions to be made for about a month.