Press Release
United States of Care and 16 Health Advocacy Organizations Submit Amicus Brief to Protect Coverage of Cost-Free Preventive Services
Washington, D.C. — Today, United States of Care and 16 partner health advocacy organizations filed an amicus brief with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Braidwood Management Inc. v. Becerra to protect coverage of preventive services without out-of-pocket cost. United States of Care CEO and co-founder Natalie Davis and several partner organizations released the following statement:
“Judge Reed O’Connor’s decision in Braidwood v. Becerra puts access to life-saving preventive services without out-of-pocket cost at risk for over 151 million Americans. The ripple effect of this ruling will no doubt impact every person in this country, taking away life saving screenings and preventive care,” said United States of Care CEO and co-founder Natalie Davis. “By filing this amicus brief with some of our closest partners across the country, United States of Care is highlighting just how devastating this decision is for access to affordable, dependable health care – and how important it is for the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn this ruling and reinstate protections for preventive services without out-of-pocket cost.”
“At a time when we should be focused on continuing coverage for the millions of people impacted by the unwinding of the Public Health Emergency, we are instead fighting yet another baseless legal battle that threatens preventive care and coverage for millions more,” said Emily Stewart, Executive Director of Community Catalyst. “At risk are critical protections for a range of preventive services which could impact access to no-copay cancer screenings, pre- and postnatal care, as well as other preventive care like PrEP. The loss of these benefits would disproportionately impact the financial health and wellbeing of Black, Latinx, LGBTQ+ and other systemically-excluded communities who already face discriminatory barriers to affordable health coverage and care. We are proud to work alongside our national, state and community partners to protect vital coverage and continue the march until everyone has equitable access to the care they want and need to be healthy.”
“Underserved health care consumers in Utah want to see clear and convincing value in what they are purchasing,” said Utah Health Policy Project Executive Director Matt Slonaker. “Clients often ask us ‘I am healthy, why should I pay insurance premiums on something I may not use and that I am not required to purchase?’ Once we mention the inclusion of no copay preventive services, clients realize they are getting something immediately and directly in return — not just a promise of coverage in case they get sick. When clients utilize preventive services and see the value, they are more likely to not drop coverage and stay insured. If consumers are required to pay copays for preventive services, folks will not only utilize far less preventive services, but be far more likely to drop coverage.”
“At a time when millions of Pennsylvanians are struggling to pay for health care, overturning a key protection that ensures patients get preventive care free-of-charge returns us to a time when people might skip out on potentially life-saving care or end up with medical debt for doing the responsible thing,” said Antoinette Kraus, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Health Access Network. “The health of our families and loved ones is at stake and we urge the Fifth Circuit to do the right thing and uphold the Affordable Care Act’s preventive care protections.”
“A full reversal of the preventive services requirement will cause a massive disruption in the American health care system with over 150 million Americans at risk of losing access to no-cost preventive care,” said Protect Our Care Communications Director Anne Shoup. “If Judge O’Connor’s ruling stands, free screenings for depression, diabetes, and heart health will no longer be guaranteed, raising costs on families and threatening the health and well-being of millions. Without this guarantee, more Americans will be forced to choose between going to the doctor and paying for other essentials like groceries and rent — meaning 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 span the health care advocacy field, representing state consumer health advocates, partners focused on health equity and coverage, as well as national groups that have fought for years to pass and uphold protections guaranteed under the Affordable Care Act. Below is the full list of co-amicus signers:
- ACA Consumer Advocacy
- AcademyHealth
- Colorado Consumer Health Initiative
- Committee to Protect Health Care
- Community Catalyst
- Consumers for Affordable Health Care
- Health Care Voices
- Michigan League for Public Policy
- National Partnership for Women and Families
- New Day Nevada
- Pennsylvania Health Access Network
- Protect our Care, a fiscally sponsored project of the New Venture Fund
- Shriver Center on Poverty Law
- Utah Health Policy Project
- West Virginians for Affordable Health Care
- Young Invincibles
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Additional information can be found at United States of Care’s Preventive Resources Hub.
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:
Kevin Perez-Allen
(714) 499-4481