The US Supreme Court on Friday upheld a key provision of the Affordable Care Act that requires health plans to fully cover many preventive health care services recommended by a federal panel.
The ruling means that tens of millions of Americans can continue getting a variety of preventive services for free under their plans. Those cost-free services include an array of screenings, such as cancer screenings like mammograms and colonoscopies, as well as screens for obesity, lead exposure in children, high blood pressure, diabetes, and some sexually transmitted diseases, to name a few. The free services also include recommended vaccines for children and adults, well-baby and well-child doctor visits, birth control, statins, PrEP HIV prevention drugs, and fluoride supplements and varnishes for children's teeth.
The ruling stems from a lawsuit brought by a group of conservative Christians, represented by Braidwood Management, who objected to having to cover PrEP medication, which they claim can "encourage and facilitate homosexual behavior."
In their lawsuit, the group argued that the federal panel that makes recommendations for preventive services—the US Preventive Services Task Force—does not have the authority to set national policies under the appointments clause of the Constitution. Under that clause, only principal officers, appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, or inferior officers under those principal officers, can set such policies. The USPSTF is not either type of appointed officer, they argued.