The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the Affordable Care Act's requirement for insurers to provide cost-free coverage of preventive services recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). This decision was met with approval from several health organizations, including AcademyHealth, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, GO2 for Lung Cancer, Public Citizen, and Truth Initiative.
In a joint statement, these groups expressed their support: “On behalf of our organizations and the people we serve, we applaud the U.S. Supreme Court for protecting cost-free coverage of preventive services for more than 150 million people in the United States."
They emphasized the importance of access to preventive services without cost-sharing as it "saves lives and improves the health of our nation." The organizations warned that a lower court's ruling could have jeopardized access to these services and hindered progress in reducing chronic disease burdens. They highlighted that preventive care is crucial for lowering healthcare costs and improving national health outcomes.
The statement also noted the benefits of early detection in conditions like cancer. For instance, lung cancer patients have a five-year survival rate of 64% when detected early compared to just 9% at a late stage.
The organizations concluded by urging U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy to continue supporting USPSTF's evidence-based recommendations to preserve lifesaving preventive care.
More information can be found at Lung.org/braidwood.
