The Supreme Court’s Decision in Kennedy v. Braidwood: A Win for Now, But for How Long?

In an important decision upholding yet another provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Supreme Court on Friday held constitutional the ACA’s requirement that private insurers cover certain recommended preventive services without cost-sharing. The decision guarantees—for now—that all privately insured adults and children can continue to access, at no personal cost, a host of preventive services recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). The USPSTF is the federal body of medical experts charged with issuing recommendations for preventive care for adults and children. Under the ACA, all services with a grade A or B from the USPSTF must be covered without cost-sharing for the more than 150 million people in the U.S. with private insurance.

However, continued vigilance and advocacy will be necessary to ensure the scientific integrity and independence of USPSTF’s recommendations during the current Administration and beyond.

Read our latest Health Care in Motion for a breakdown of the ruling, how it will impact access to healthcare, and what will happen in this case next.