Supreme Court Reviews Constitutionality of Key ACA Preventive Care Mandate

The U.S. Supreme Court is currently reviewing the constitutionality of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), which issues recommendations for no-cost preventive health benefits mandated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Since 2010, the Task Force's guidance has ensured coverage for vital preventive services such as statins, colonoscopies for younger adults, HIV prevention medication (PrEP), breast cancer risk reduction medications, and lung cancer screenings for smokers.

 The challenge to the Task Force's authority originates from a group of employers and individuals who claim that the Task Force's structure violates the Appointments Clause of the Constitution because its members, although appointed and supervised by the Health and Human Services Secretary, have recommendations that cannot be reviewed or overruled. The Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled the Task Force unconstitutional, potentially jeopardizing the no-cost coverage mandate.

This has raised concerns among insurers, hospital groups, and public health organizations about the possible adverse impacts on preventive care availability, insurance market stability, and long-term health outcomes for over 150 million Americans relying on these preventive services.

The Supreme Court's ruling, expected by late June, could invalidate a critical ACA component that provides early disease detection and treatment interventions, particularly affecting low-income populations who depend heavily on these protections.