Supreme Court Case Could Impact ACA Preventive Care Coverage

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in the case Braidwood Management v. Kennedy, which challenges the constitutionality of a key Affordable Care Act (ACA) provision. This provision mandates most private insurers to cover preventive health services recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force without imposing cost-sharing on patients. Thirty-three health and patient organizations have submitted an amicus brief urging the Court to uphold this provision, emphasizing that cost barriers can deter individuals from accessing critical preventive care and early detection services.

Preventive services such as cancer screenings and HIV prevention treatments have been demonstrated to save lives and reduce long-term medical costs by enabling early diagnosis and treatment. Research, including a recent American Cancer Society study, highlights the risk that millions of insured Americans could lose access to essential screenings if the provision is struck down, potentially leading to worse health outcomes and higher overall healthcare expenditures.

The groups argue that preventive care improves recovery chances and extends life expectancy while reducing the physical and financial burdens of treating severe illnesses. The ACA's preventive services coverage has improved utilization of vital services nationwide for over a decade, and its removal could reverse these gains, causing preventable deaths and increased medical costs.

The pending court decision poses a significant threat to insurance coverage for preventive care by potentially eliminating the mandate for cost-free access to Task Force-recommended services. This could deter the use of preventive screenings and treatment options, worsen patient outcomes, and increase costs for both patients and the healthcare system.

Among the 33 organizations supporting the brief are prominent medical associations and advocacy groups, including the American Medical Association, American Cancer Society, American College of Physicians, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Their collective stance underscores the broad industry support for maintaining the ACA requirements that protect patient access to preventive care without financial barriers.