CINCINNATI - In the first ruling by a federal appeals court on President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, a judicial panel in Cincinnati on Wednesday affirmed an earlier ruling that Congress can require Americans to have minimum insurance coverage.

A conservative law center had challenged the provision, saying that it was unconstitutional and that Congress was overstepping its powers.

The three-judge 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel delivered a long opinion with disagreement on some issues.

The 2-1 majority opinion was written by a Jimmy Carter appointee and agreed with by a George W. Bush appointee. The dissenting judge was appointed by Ronald Reagan.

More than 30 legal challenges have been filed over the health care overhaul. The case is expected to eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court.