Experts Sound Alarm on Ruling Threatening Preventive Cancer Care
October 1, 2022More than two dozen patient advocacy organizations have raised alarms about a recent court ruling that could threaten patient access to no-cost preventive screenings, including cancer screenings.
In a statement, the groups highlighted that the decision “would result in a return to financial and other barriers proven to discourage Americans from obtaining lifesaving, preventive care.”
The ruling, issued earlier this month by a federal district judge in Texas, essentially says that the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has no authority to determine which preventive care services must be fully covered by insurance companies — an ability granted by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
The judgment, however, is not yet final, and individuals still have access to these preventive services. The judge must first make the scope of the ruling clear, and the decision will likely be appealed. In addition, the decision does not affect the authority of two other entities that make recommendations about vaccinations and preventive care for infants, children, and adolescents.