Posted on Aug 9, 2022
Preventive care such as birth control, anti-HIV medicine challenged in Texas lawsuit
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https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/08/09/ [login to see] /preventive-care-such-as-birth-control-anti-hiv-medicine-challenged-in-texas-laws
The Affordable Care Act has survived many challenges in court, but the case of Kelley v. Becerra – now before a federal judge in Texas – threatens to undermine one of the most popular provisions in the law, which requires most health plans to provide coverage for preventive care with no copays.
If the judge rules in favor of the plaintiffs, access to free birth control, cancer screenings, vaccines, PrEP (HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis), counseling for alcohol misuse, diet counseling for people at higher risk of chronic disease, and many more preventive services would be in jeopardy, according to the nation's leading doctors' groups, which have sounded the alarm.
"The lawsuit could cause millions of Americans, probably more than 150 million, to lose guaranteed access to preventive services," Dr. Jack Resneck, president of the American Medical Association, told NPR. "There's really a great deal at stake," he said.
The doctors' group points to research showing that expanded access to preventive care and coverage, ushered in by the ACA, has led to an increase in colon cancer screenings, vaccinations, use of contraception and chronic disease screenings. There's also data to show that expanded coverage has reduced racial and ethnic disparities in preventive care.
The Affordable Care Act has survived many challenges in court, but the case of Kelley v. Becerra – now before a federal judge in Texas – threatens to undermine one of the most popular provisions in the law, which requires most health plans to provide coverage for preventive care with no copays.
If the judge rules in favor of the plaintiffs, access to free birth control, cancer screenings, vaccines, PrEP (HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis), counseling for alcohol misuse, diet counseling for people at higher risk of chronic disease, and many more preventive services would be in jeopardy, according to the nation's leading doctors' groups, which have sounded the alarm.
"The lawsuit could cause millions of Americans, probably more than 150 million, to lose guaranteed access to preventive services," Dr. Jack Resneck, president of the American Medical Association, told NPR. "There's really a great deal at stake," he said.
The doctors' group points to research showing that expanded access to preventive care and coverage, ushered in by the ACA, has led to an increase in colon cancer screenings, vaccinations, use of contraception and chronic disease screenings. There's also data to show that expanded coverage has reduced racial and ethnic disparities in preventive care.
Preventive care such as birth control, anti-HIV medicine challenged in Texas lawsuit
Posted from npr.org
State of Texas
Medical
Health
Lawsuit
Religion
Edited >1 y ago
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This is getting ridiculous, Preventative Health care costs so little compared with the alternatives.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Though the Supreme Court has upheld the Affordable Care Act in prior cases, there's now a new make-up of justices. Scholars point to the recent EPA v. West Virginia decision, in which justices challenged the EPA's authority to act without specific direction from Congress. Georgetown's Twinamatsiko points to another case, Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania, that also centered on the Affordable Care Act's preventive services provision requiring employers to include cost-free birth control in their health plans in accordance with the Health Resources and Services Administration guidelines. In that case, "Justice Clarence Thomas specifically said that the ACA's preventive services requirement seems to give HRSA virtually unlimited power to determine what counts as preventive care," tipping his hand at what his opinion would be if Kelley v. Becerra comes before the Supreme Court.
State attorneys general in 20 states filed a friend of the court brief defending access to free, preventive care. And public health experts have weighed in too. "It's really difficult to take away something that people already have," says A. Mark Fendrick, a doctor who directs the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design. "If the preventive mandate were to be struck down, I believe lots of people will not get the preventive care they need."
..."Though the Supreme Court has upheld the Affordable Care Act in prior cases, there's now a new make-up of justices. Scholars point to the recent EPA v. West Virginia decision, in which justices challenged the EPA's authority to act without specific direction from Congress. Georgetown's Twinamatsiko points to another case, Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania, that also centered on the Affordable Care Act's preventive services provision requiring employers to include cost-free birth control in their health plans in accordance with the Health Resources and Services Administration guidelines. In that case, "Justice Clarence Thomas specifically said that the ACA's preventive services requirement seems to give HRSA virtually unlimited power to determine what counts as preventive care," tipping his hand at what his opinion would be if Kelley v. Becerra comes before the Supreme Court.
State attorneys general in 20 states filed a friend of the court brief defending access to free, preventive care. And public health experts have weighed in too. "It's really difficult to take away something that people already have," says A. Mark Fendrick, a doctor who directs the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design. "If the preventive mandate were to be struck down, I believe lots of people will not get the preventive care they need."
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Birth Control is so affordable across every station of life out there it doesn't make any difference if it is included in all health care insurance plans.
It looks like the Left is just trying to find something to scare people with again. Why don't they concentrate on stuff that matters to all US Citizens, inflation, drugs, border security, etc. They have nothing to talk about on the major issues, so they try to scare people on the lessor issues.
It looks like the Left is just trying to find something to scare people with again. Why don't they concentrate on stuff that matters to all US Citizens, inflation, drugs, border security, etc. They have nothing to talk about on the major issues, so they try to scare people on the lessor issues.
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MSG Stan Hutchison
SFC (Join to see) - There is absolutely no reason we cannot address all of those problems if the 2 parties would stop posturing for votes and actually got together and found solutions. They did on the chip bill. They must find a way to address those other problems.
And soon.
And soon.
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MSG Stan Hutchison
MAJ Roland McDonald - First, one must live where there are "community health clinics." Then they must have the appropriate health insurance or be too poor to afford it. Yes, there are some sources, but I know of people that live too far away or have no means to get that help.
Of course, this is all based on money and appropriate funding.
Take a walk with me through a couple of reservations here in the mid-west and southwest. You will be shocked at the way some of our citizens have to live, to survive.
Of course, this is all based on money and appropriate funding.
Take a walk with me through a couple of reservations here in the mid-west and southwest. You will be shocked at the way some of our citizens have to live, to survive.
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SFC (Join to see)
MSG Stan Hutchison - Stan, you do yourself and your service dishonor when you try to pass off this bill as chips and health care. You are lying by omission. I am bored with you trying to pass this off as anything other than a green new deal, like most Progressive Democrats it appears they are trying to buy votes. They are usually pretty good at it.
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2022/08/chips-act-climate-bill-biden/671095/
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2022/08/chips-act-climate-bill-biden/671095/
Congress Just Passed a Big Climate Bill. No, Not That One.
A bipartisan act is quietly about to invest billions in boosting green technology.
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MAJ Roland McDonald
MSG Stan Hutchison Yes you are correct. I grew up in a small town in the midwest and we had a community health center in it in the mid 1970's. Also I said almost not all. Reservations are a whole different animal. The federal government has been messing that one since they created the reservations. I whole heartily agree that reservations need alot more help than they are getting. But unfortunately they are a small voice and all politicians listen to the largest and loudest and wealthiest. So nothing will be done anyway. The congress can't pass a clean bill with no riders or add on's. Without giving money to those that turn around and give to the politicians reelection funds. Which by a law they passed says they get to keep what's left when they so call retire from congress. Thus so many go for reelection then half way to the primary the announce they will retire. System is rigged. Need term limits on politicians.
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