Health

Photos: Medicaid expansion lawsuit oral arguments

A lawsuit by the Republican-led Alaska Legislature to halt Gov. Bill Walker's Medicaid expansion inched forward Thursday morning as both sides made their cases in Superior Court, with the judge telling them not to expect a decision until the end of March.

Alaska Legislative Council attorney Erin Murphy argued on behalf of the Legislature. Attorney Dario Borghesan argued on behalf of defendants Walker and Valerie Davison, commissioner of the Department of Health and Social Services.

Each side was given 45 minutes to make their case. Both made a variety of arguments, yet both also agreed with Superior Court judge Frank Pfiffner that the case hinges on the definition of "required" in the Alaska Medicaid statute.

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