The ACA: Braidwood Management v. Becerra
The ACA: Braidwood Management v. Becerra
June 2024 update
There was a “mixed-bag” decision by the United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. In they decision, they wrote, “accordingly, we AFFIRM in part, REVERSE in part, and REMAND for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
What does this mean? The preventive services covered under the ACA are currently safe and payers must cover what the USPSTF recommends; however, future legal cases and decisions may come and put these coverage requirements in limbo and in jeopardy.
Fight CRC will continue to advocate for colorectal cancer screenings to be covered.
March 2023 update
Fight Colorectal Cancer strongly opposes the ruling issued today by Judge Reed O’Connor of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas putting in jeopardy free preventive health services. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) preventive services provision requires insurers to remove patient cost sharing for preventive services that received an A or B rating by the U.S Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).
By removing this requirement, patients may now receive a bill for the over 100 preventive health services, including cancer screenings like colonoscopies, that were previously covered under the ACA.
There are already over 20 million Americans eligible for colorectal cancer screening who have not been screened. This ruling will create further barriers to patients and limit access to life saving preventive screenings and services. The Biden Administration must appeal this ruling and fight to protect patients’ access to life saving health services. Fight Colorectal Cancer will continue to fight to ensure all Americans have access to potentially life-saving cancer screening.
September 2022
Last week in Texas, a federal judge ruled as unconstitutional the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) coverage based on recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). The USPSTF determines the preventive care that must be covered in full by private health insurance.
No-cost preventive services – such as colorectal cancer screening – are critical to improving health outcomes for all Americans and ultimately saving lives. Fight Colorectal Cancer is deeply concerned about last week’s ruling and will work with policymakers and our advocacy partners to ensure continued access to colorectal cancer screening and other important preventive services.
“I was diagnosed with stage IIIb colorectal cancer in May 2018 because of a routine colonoscopy as a part of a preventive health screening. I was grateful to be in a position to accept this opportunity of which many are not so lucky or afforded. This preventive health screening saved my life as today I’m cancer free. It’s imperative that this option be made available to everyone so more lives may be saved.”
“Colorectal cancer screening saves lives. We have been working hard with our partners to get CRC screenings back on track following major decreases due to COVID-19. This ruling underscores that we as advocates for patients need to stay vigilant. We can’t address the health disparities we see across the country and remove lifesaving screening services. The ruling is a step back in providing access to prevention for those who need it most.”
June 2024 update
There was a “mixed-bag” decision by the United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. In they decision, they wrote, “accordingly, we AFFIRM in part, REVERSE in part, and REMAND for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
What does this mean? The preventive services covered under the ACA are currently safe and payers must cover what the USPSTF recommends; however, future legal cases and decisions may come and put these coverage requirements in limbo and in jeopardy.
Fight CRC will continue to advocate for colorectal cancer screenings to be covered.
March 2023 update
Fight Colorectal Cancer strongly opposes the ruling issued today by Judge Reed O’Connor of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas putting in jeopardy free preventive health services. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) preventive services provision requires insurers to remove patient cost sharing for preventive services that received an A or B rating by the U.S Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).
By removing this requirement, patients may now receive a bill for the over 100 preventive health services, including cancer screenings like colonoscopies, that were previously covered under the ACA.
There are already over 20 million Americans eligible for colorectal cancer screening who have not been screened. This ruling will create further barriers to patients and limit access to life saving preventive screenings and services. The Biden Administration must appeal this ruling and fight to protect patients’ access to life saving health services. Fight Colorectal Cancer will continue to fight to ensure all Americans have access to potentially life-saving cancer screening.
September 2022
Last week in Texas, a federal judge ruled as unconstitutional the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) coverage based on recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). The USPSTF determines the preventive care that must be covered in full by private health insurance.
No-cost preventive services – such as colorectal cancer screening – are critical to improving health outcomes for all Americans and ultimately saving lives. Fight Colorectal Cancer is deeply concerned about last week’s ruling and will work with policymakers and our advocacy partners to ensure continued access to colorectal cancer screening and other important preventive services.
“I was diagnosed with stage IIIb colorectal cancer in May 2018 because of a routine colonoscopy as a part of a preventive health screening. I was grateful to be in a position to accept this opportunity of which many are not so lucky or afforded. This preventive health screening saved my life as today I’m cancer free. It’s imperative that this option be made available to everyone so more lives may be saved.”
“Colorectal cancer screening saves lives. We have been working hard with our partners to get CRC screenings back on track following major decreases due to COVID-19. This ruling underscores that we as advocates for patients need to stay vigilant. We can’t address the health disparities we see across the country and remove lifesaving screening services. The ruling is a step back in providing access to prevention for those who need it most.”
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