The Maine Supreme Court has upheld a state insurance department 2009 decision reducing a health insurance rate increase proposed by Anthem.

Following up on an emergency cease and desist order issued last month, Maine regulators are prohibiting a Tennessee company and its operators from continuing activity in the state and have ordered the firm to pay of $1.2 million in civil penalties.

A Maine court has sided with the state’s insurance regulator in her denial of an 18.1% average rate increase for residents enrolled through Anthem Health Plans of Maine.

American Trade Association and its affiliates, facing liquidation, are the subject of another cease and desist order by a state insurance department.

Calling for industry-wide reform to solve the nation’s health care crisis, Maine’s insurance commissioner said the rising cost of insurance premiums is “slowly killing off the American middle class.”