Blog 6/27/25
Earlier today, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued an opinion on Kennedy v. Braidwood Management Inc. (Docket 24-316). In a 6-3 ruling, SCOTUS ruled in favor of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) preventative care mandate, which requires health insurance plans to cover preventative healthcare services. The preventive care mandate protects coverage for a wide-range of medical services, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention, cancer screenings, immunizations, and more.
The federal government, which was the defendant in the case, argued in favor of the ACA’s preventative care mandate, and Equitas Health has previously raised the alarm about this important case, which originally centered on PrEP for HIV prevention.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the incidence of HIV decreased by 12% from 2018 to 2022, and the federal government’s Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative is working towards a 90% reduction in new HIV infections by 2030. Today’s decision is a major victory for public health and access to care, and it upholds important protections for the communities that Equitas Health serves.
By requiring health insurance companies to cover life-saving preventative care, SCOTUS has ruled on the right side of history, though they have also affirmed that recommendations from the US Preventative Services Task Force are reviewable by the Secretary of HHS before taking effect. Even so, this decision will positively impact communities at higher risk of chronic diseases like HIV, diabetes, high blood pressure, and more.
Reflecting on the Court’s opinion, Dr. Rhea Debussy (she/her), Director of External Affairs at Equitas Health said, “By upholding this important provision of the ACA, the Supreme Court of the United States has protected access to care. Everyone deserves access to medically necessary, preventative healthcare services, and today’s decision will positively affect Americans at risk of HIV, cancer, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.”
Preventive care services can help to identify potential health concerns earlier – often before many symptoms appear. This helps to make treatment more effective and less costly, and most importantly, it results in better patient outcomes. They can also prevent health concerns almost entirely. PrEP is
“We know that preventative healthcare, like PrEP, works,” said David Ernesto Munar (he/him) CEO and president of Equitas Health. “By ruling in favor of the ACA, SCOTUS has protected access to care that will help end the HIV epidemic in the U.S. Equitas Health applauds this historic opinion.”
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ABOUT EQUITAS HEALTH
Established in 1984, Equitas Health is a regional nonprofit community healthcare system. A federally-designated Community Health Center, it is one of the largest LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS serving healthcare organizations in the United States. With 22 offices in 13 cities, Equitas Health serves tens of thousands of patients in Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia each year through patient-centered, integrated, and cutting edge services, including primary and specialized medical care, pharmacy, dentistry, mental health and recovery, HIV/STI treatment and prevention, PrEP/PEP, Ryan White/HIV case management, care navigation, advocacy, and other community health initiatives. The Equitas Health Pharmacy is an integral and essential part of the health center’s comprehensive care and business models, reinvesting 100% of profits back into the organization’s programs and services. Equitas Health operates pharmacies serving patients in Ohio and Texas. For more information, visit equitashealth.com or find them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
Blog 3/6/25
