Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, Inc., upholding the authority of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and preserving the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that most insurance plans cover preventive services without cost-sharing.
The National Health Law Program welcomes this ruling as a vital protection for the millions of people who rely on no-cost access to essential preventive services, including cancer screenings, HIV prevention, and maternal health care.
Executive Director Elizabeth G. Taylor stated, “We are relieved that the Court has upheld the constitutionality of this critical part of the Affordable Care Act and recognized the critical role of evidence-based medicine in safeguarding public health. Today’s decision protects those rights, for now. But in recent weeks, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. purged the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—a clear warning sign of how vulnerable preventive health policy is under his leadership. The potential for politicization and the rejection of scientific consensus under this administration pose an ongoing threat to the very services this ruling just preserved.”
Senior Attorney Wayne Turner, a longtime advocate for people living with HIV, said, “This outcome is a victory for the people who count on preventive care to stay healthy, but it comes with an asterisk. The Trump administration has waged a relentless assault on health care programs and services relied upon by low income persons, particularly LGBTQI+ communities and people living with HIV. We will remain vigilant and prepared to fight any attempt to use executive authority recognized by the Court to undermine the health of underserved communities.”
Litigation Director Jane Perkins added, “The statute requires USPSTF to base its recommendations on clinical best practices, with input from trusted medical and scientific institutions along with patient voices. Evidence-based clinical standards matter. The Court has affirmed the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, and critically, it has not affirmed the actions of Secretary Kennedy.”
The National Health Law Program remains committed to defending access to comprehensive, equitable health care and will continue to monitor and respond to administrative actions that could jeopardize the preventive services safeguarded by today’s ruling.
