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The Big Story

SCOTUS upholds Obamacare preventive care mandate

The Supreme Court on Friday upheld a key Affordable Care Act requirement that insurance companies cover certain preventative measures recommended by an expert panel.

Justices upheld the constitutionality of the provision in a 6-3 decision and protected access to preventative care for about 150 million Americans.

The justices found that the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services has the power to appoint and fire members of the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF).

The cases started when a small business in Texas and some individuals filed a lawsuit against the panel’s recommendation that pre-exposure prophylaxis (PreP) for HIV be included as a preventative care service.

They argued that covering PreP went against their religious beliefs and would “encourage homosexual behavior, intravenous drug use, and sexual activity outside of marriage between one man and one woman.”

The plaintiffs further argued that the USPSTF mandates are unconstitutional because panel members are “inferior officers” who are not appointed by the president or confirmed by the Senate.

While the panel is independent, they said that since their decisions impact millions of people members should be confirmed.

A U.S. district judge in 2023 ruled that all preventative-care coverage imposed since the ACA was signed into law are invalid and a federal appeals court judge ruled in agreement last year.

The Biden administration appealed the rulings to the Supreme Court, and the Trump administration chose to defend the law despite its long history of disparaging Obamacare.

Though public health groups celebrated the ruling Friday, some noted another potential outcome.

“While this is a foundational victory for patients, patients have reason to be concerned that the decision reaffirms the ability of the HHS secretary, including our current one, to control the membership and recommendations of the US Preventive Services Task Force that determines which preventive services are covered,” Anthony Wright, executive director of Families USA, said in a statement.

“We must be vigilant to ensure Secretary Kennedy does not undo coverage of preventive services by taking actions such as his recent firing of qualified health experts from the CDC’s independent vaccine advisory committee and replacing them with his personal allies.”

Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, we’re Nathaniel Weixel, Joseph Choi and Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.

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Around the Nation

Local and state headlines on health care:

Will California ban ultra-processed foods in school meals? (Cal Matters)
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What We’re Reading

Health news we’ve flagged from other outlets:

Kennedy’s new advisers rescind recommendations for some flu vaccines (The New York Times)
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What Others are Reading

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The Supreme Court handed President Trump a clear victory Friday, stopping judges from issuing nationwide injunctions that block his executive order … Read more

What People Think

Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill:

Obamacare preventive care mandate wins in Supreme Court ruling

Health Care

Health Care

SCOTUS upholds Obamacare preventive care mandate

Paul Klee

Michael Parkes

Wassily Wassilyevich Kandinsky

Health Care

Health Care

SCOTUS upholds Obamacare preventive care mandate

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