Federal Judge Deals Major Blow to Affordable Care Act's Preventative Care Requirements

A federal judge in Texas has ruled that the provision in the Affordable Care Act requiring insurance companies to cover certain preventive health services for free, including screenings for certain cancers and preventive medicines like PrEP for HIV, is unconstitutional. The judge ruled that the panel responsible for recommending these services was unconstitutional because its members were not appointed by the president or confirmed by the Senate. This ruling could impact the roughly 100 million Americans who make use of free preventive services every year and may deter patients from seeking potentially life-saving services. Advocates and health organizations have spoken out against the decision, and an appeal by the Biden administration is likely.