Court Approves Agreement on Partial Stay in Braidwood Case

WASHINGTON (Protect Our Care) — Today, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals granted a partial stay pending appeal in Braidwood Management v. Becerra, protecting free preventive care for 150 million Americans as the case moves through the courts. In his initial ruling in the case, Judge O’Connor invalidated critical benefits endorsed by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, including lifesaving lung, breast, and colorectal cancer screenings, anxiety and depression screenings for children and adults, heart disease screenings, intimate partner violence screenings, and access to PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), which can reduce the chance of contracting HIV. The court order, approving an agreement reached by the parties, means that, while the ruling stands for the plaintiffs, it will not go into immediate effect nationwide as Judge O’Connor previously ruled. In response, Protect Our Care Communications Director Anne Shoup issued the following statement:

“This agreement will protect the 150 million people who rely on preventative services while this case works through the courts. While millions of Americans can breathe a sigh of relief knowing they can continue to access free preventive care, these lifesaving services remain at risk. If Judge O’Connor’s ruling stands, free screenings for depression, diabetes, and heart health will no longer be guaranteed, raising costs on families and threatening the health of millions. Without this guarantee, more Americans will be forced to choose between going to the doctor and paying for other essentials like groceries and rent — meaning more Americans will get sick and more will die of entirely preventable causes.”

Protect Our Care is dedicated to making high-quality, affordable and equitable health care a right, and not a privilege, for everyone in America. We educate the public, influence policy, support health care champions and hold politicians accountable. We fight to expand access to affordable, high-quality health insurance, lower the cost of health care for individuals and families, and reduce inequities in health care based on gender, income, race, ethnicity, geography, or sexual preference.

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Wayne Creed

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