APhA statement on U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit’s decision on access to preventative care and medications

WASHINGTON, DC—The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) is concerned with the recent decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Braidwood Mgmt v. Becerra, which may weaken current requirements for insurers to cover preventative care services and medications. 

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act established requirements that grade “A” or “B” recommendations by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPTSF) and women’s preventative care and screenings, including contraception, are required to be covered by health plans with no cost-sharing requirements for patients. 

While requirements to cover preventative care services and medications with no cost-sharing largely remain for most patients, the decision calls into question the constitutionality of these requirements. If ever overturned, it would significantly impact patients and pharmacists as the coverage and affordability of these necessary preventative care services would no longer be guaranteed. 

Without access to preventative care services and medications, our patients’ health is compromised. APhA continues to call on policymakers to ensure through guidance, law, or regulation that insurers comply with federal requirements to cover all recommended preventative care services and medications without cost-sharing. 

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