A federal judge on Thursday issued a ruling that would block the federal government from enforcing mandates for preventive care within the Affordable Care Act, which required insurers to provide a slew of critical screenings to members at no cost.
Judge Reed O'Connor of Texas' Northern District Court ruled last fall that multiple recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force ran afoul of the Constitution's Appointments Clause. The lawsuit was led by two Texas residents who argued that ACA requirements to cover birth control and preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) drugs, which prevent HIV, at no cost violated their religious beliefs.
While the initial suit focused on PrEP and birth control, both of which are politically controversial with conservatives, Thursday's ruling does extend to preventive screenings for certain cancers, like lung cancer, as well as behavioral health conditions, such as anxiety, experts at the Kaiser Family Foundation said on a briefing Thursday afternoon.
It would not apply to preventive care recommendations issued before the ACA was put in place in March 2020, according to the briefing. Certain diabetes, heart health and women's health screenings could also be impacted.
Patients are likely to avoid preventive care should ACA coverage ruling stand, survey finds
Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy at Kaiser Family Foundation, said that consumers could be shielded, at least in part, from the ruling initially,...
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