Attorney General Kwame Raoul has spearheaded a coalition of 24 attorneys general, submitting an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of maintaining a crucial provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This provision ensures access to preventive healthcare services for millions of Americans. The coalition is urging the Supreme Court to grant certiorari and overturn a lower court's decision that blocks federal enforcement of this provision against certain respondents, which they argue could hinder access to essential medical care.
The ACA's preventive services provision was enacted by Congress to eliminate financial barriers to preventive care, which many Americans struggled to afford prior to the ACA. This requirement mandates most private insurance plans cover specific preventive services like cancer screenings and vaccinations without out-of-pocket costs such as copayments or deductibles.
"All patients in Illinois and across the country deserve continued access to what are often lifesaving, preventive health services," stated Attorney General Raoul. "I will continue to collaborate with other attorneys general to preserve access to care that will save lives, reduce disparities in health care and improve public health in our communities."
The coalition is requesting that the Supreme Court review Becerra v. Braidwood Management Inc., and reverse the district court's decision prohibiting enforcement of these provisions. They argue this ruling could lead to significant gaps in healthcare coverage since states cannot regulate certain insurance plans due to federal law restrictions. State-level mandates, they assert, are less effective without corresponding federal guidelines for implementation and enforcement.
Since its enactment in 2010, the ACA's provision has improved public health outcomes by expanding access to preventive services. According to the brief, within four years after its passage, around 76 million Americans gained expanded coverage for one or more preventive services. By 2020, approximately 151.6 million people were enrolled in private insurance plans offering no-cost preventive services.
Beyond saving lives, this provision has increased healthcare access for women—including contraceptives—and reduced socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic disparities by broadening access to various preventive services.
Joining Raoul are attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island Vermont Washington and Wisconsin.