The Supreme Court voted 6-3 to uphold an Affordable Care Act provision creating an independent task force that makes recommendations for preventive services that insurers must cover at no cost, reversing a lower court ruling that declared the task force unconstitutional.
What happened
The Supreme Court issued its ruling on June 27, 2025, in a 6-3 decision that upheld the constitutionality of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force established under the Affordable Care Act. The task force determines which preventive services must be covered by insurers without cost-sharing requirements. The ruling reverses a June 2024 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, which had partially affirmed a district court judgment declaring the task force unconstitutional. The 5th Circuit had ruled that the group charged with determining coverage of certain preventative services violated constitutional principles.
What was said
AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack responded to the decision, stating: "Preventive services like breast cancer screenings, colonoscopies, and medications to treat high cholesterol and blood pressure save lives and make communities healthier. Today's decision upholds the importance of evidence-based medicine and ensures that more Americans will be able to receive important preventive health care services at lower costs."
The American Hospital Association had filed a friend-of-the-court brief in February urging the Supreme Court justices to reverse the 5th Circuit ruling.
Why it matters
This ruling directly impacts healthcare access and costs for millions of Americans by preserving the requirement that insurers cover preventive services without patient cost-sharing. The decision ensures that essential screenings and preventive treatments remain accessible regardless of patients' ability to pay upfront costs, which is significant for early detection of serious conditions like cancer and management of chronic diseases. By upholding the task force's authority, the Court maintains a system where coverage decisions for preventive care are based on scientific evidence rather than insurance company preferences, protecting both healthcare providers and patients from potential coverage gaps that could emerge if the task force had been dismantled.
The bottom line
The Supreme Court's decision preserves a component of the ACA that makes preventive healthcare more accessible and affordable. Healthcare organizations and patients can continue to rely on evidence-based coverage requirements for essential preventive services, ensuring that financial barriers don't prevent early detection and treatment of serious health conditions.
FAQs
What specific services are currently recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force?
The ruling doesn't list them, but they include screenings for cancer, diabetes, and mental health.
How often does the Preventive Services Task Force update its recommendations?
The task force regularly reviews and updates recommendations based on the latest medical evidence.
Who appoints members to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force?
Members are appointed by the director of AHRQ, not by the President or Congress.
How might this ruling influence future challenges to ACA provisions?
It may set a precedent for upholding other ACA components under constitutional scrutiny.
Does this decision affect religious or moral exemption claims to preventive care coverage?
The ruling does not address exemptions based on religious or moral objections.
