WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is joining calls by states and a business group for prompt Supreme Court review of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.

The department says it will file its appeal with the high court later today asking the justices to uphold the constitutionality of the law and throw out a federal appeals court ruling that struck down a key provision.

The word from Justice is the Obama administration’s first indication that it wants an up-or-down ruling before the 2012 presidential election on the law that aims to extend insurance coverage to more than 30 million Americans.