ACP concerned by recent Supreme Court decisions on health care protections

ACP has issued three statements voicing concern about recent Supreme Court rulings that could have significant consequences for patient care and health equity.

ACP expressed relief that the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of appointing members to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). However, ACP remains deeply concerned that without additional guardrails, such as protections against arbitrary dismissal and disregard of the Task Force's recommendations, the integrity and effectiveness of the USPSTF may be undermined. The Affordable Care Act relies on this expert panel to define which preventive services insurers must cover, and weakening its authority could jeopardize patient access to essential screenings, such as mammograms and colonoscopies. (The scheduled July 11 meeting of the USPSTF was canceled by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., according to news reports.)

In a statement regarding the United States v. Skrmetti decision, ACP strongly objected to the Court allowing a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming care for minors to remain in effect and emphasizes that such laws interfere with the physician-patient relationship and obstruct access to evidence-based care, posing serious risks to the health and well-being of youth. ACP joined multiple organizations in an amicus brief in response to the ruling.

ACP also expressed concern in a statement in response to the Medina vs. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic decision, which paves the way for states to limit where enrollees in their state Medicaid program can obtain care, without any recourse for those enrollees.