“The final rule is clearly an end-run around the ACA,” the judge said. “The final rule was designed to expand access to AHPs in order to avoid the most stringent requirements of the ACA.” (Photo: Shutterstock)

One of President Donald Trump's health-care initiatives intended as a cheaper alternative to Obamacare suffered a crucial defeat when a judge ruled the policy violates the Affordable Care Act.

U.S. District Judge John Bates in Washington on Thursday blocked new rules governing so-called association health plans, or AHPs, which let businesses and individuals band together to create group health plans that offer less expensive coverage than the ACA — but without some of its protections.

The decision is the second blow to Trump's health agenda in as many days. It follows twin rulings Wednesday by another Washington judge who blocked administration-sanctioned plans to impose work requirements for some Medicaid recipients in Kentucky and Arkansas.