USofCare and 47 Health Advocacy Groups Submit Amicus Brief in Kennedy v. Braidwood (formerly Braidwood v. Becerra), Urge SCOTUS to Protect Free Preventive Health Care Services

Washington, D.C. — Today, United States of Care, in partnership with 47 partner organizations, filed an amicus brief in Kennedy v. Braidwood (formerly Braidwood v. Becerra) urging the Supreme Court of the United States to protect access to free preventive services for nearly 151 million people – including 37 million children – ahead of oral arguments expected in April. 

“People want to be healthy, and they want health care they can afford and rely on – that’s what we hear in our listening work all the time. Stripping away access to free preventive services would not only put a price on services that have been free for people for over a decade, it would be forcing people to weigh the cost of health care against the cost of essentials like groceries and gas in yet another aspect of our health care system,” said United States of Care CEO and Co-Founder Natalie Davis. “The Supreme Court has the obligation to hand down a ruling that affirms the preventive services mandate and delivers a sigh of relief for the almost 151 million people who have anxiously held their breath as this case moves through the courts.” 

“Washingtonians have relied on free access to critical preventive services for over a decade. As we work to create a health care system that works for everyone, we can’t undermine the progress we’ve already made,” said Emily Brice, Co-Executive Director of Northwest Health Law Advocates (NoHLA). “Access to services like cancer screenings, HIV prevention through PreP, and important maternal health services have saved countless lives and kept Washingtonians healthy. We’re proud to join our partners at United States of Care and other organizations across the country in calling on the Supreme Court to uphold the free preventive services law rather than keeping people from getting care.”

“At a time when millions are calling for more affordable health care and economic stability for their families, we should be expanding health care coverage—not cutting it. Instead, we’re fighting yet another baseless legal battle that puts preventive care for millions at risk,” said Mona Shah, Senior Director of Policy and Strategy at Community Catalyst. “Critical protections for preventive services without a copay and that don’t count towards deductibles, like cancer screenings, pre- and postnatal care, and PrEP hang in the balance. The loss of affordable coverage of these benefits would harm us all, while disproportionately hurting the financial health and wellbeing of Black, Latinx, LGBTQ+, and other systemically excluded communities already facing discriminatory barriers to care. This is a deliberate attempt to divide us and distract from what people across race, place, and backgrounds overwhelmingly want: affordable, quality health care for all. We are proud to stand with our national, state, and community partners to protect vital coverage and ensure everyone has equitable access to the care they want and need to be healthy.”

“At Georgians for a Healthy Future, we believe that all Georgians should have the opportunity to achieve their highest level of health. Foundational to that opportunity is reliable access to free preventive services that ward off disease and illness from the start, said Whitney Griggs, Director of Health Policy at Georgians for a Healthy Future. “Braidwood v. Becerra puts that access at risk, threatening to strip away no-cost preventive care for 5 million Georgians and millions more across the country. We stand with organizations nationwide in urging the Supreme Court to uphold the Affordable Care Act’s preventive services mandate and protect families from new financial barriers to essential care.”

“The Affordable Care Act is once again facing an existential threat in the courts. A full reversal of the preventive services requirement will cause a massive disruption in the American health care system, and over 150 million Americans are at risk of losing lifesaving care,” said Anne Shoup, Senior Adviser for Strategic Planning and Projects at Protect Our Care. “If this requirement is overturned, people will lose access to free screenings for depression, diabetes, and heart health. As a result, more Americans will be forced to choose between going to the doctor and paying for other essentials like groceries and rent — and more Americans will get sick and more will die of entirely preventable causes.”The full list of co-amicus organizations that filed alongside United States of Care represent a range of stakeholders in states across the country and across the advocacy spectrum, representing 48 total co-amicus signers. Below is the full list:

Additional information can be found at United States of Care’s Preventive Resources Hub

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About United States of Care
United States of Care is a nonpartisan organization committed to ensuring that everyone has access to quality, affordable health care.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Adam Wilkerson
(314) 852-7718
awilkerson@usofcare.org