U.S. District Court ruling threatens access to free, lifesaving cancer screenings under the Affordable Care Act
FO PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA
Kyra Meister
703-836-1746
kyra.meister@preventcancer.org
Alexandria, Va. – Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor struck down a requirement in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a ruling that threatens access to preventive care services—including but not limited to colonoscopies, mammograms and Pap tests—for millions of Americans.
Judge O’Connor’s ruling applies to a crucial provision of the ACA that requires insurers to cover preventive services recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) at no cost to the patient. Before this ruling, coverage was required on a wide range of these preventive services, but this week’s decision blocks coverage requirements for any recommendations made before the ACA was signed into law and would apply nationwide, having a massive effect on free preventive care for cancer, depression, diabetes and HIV. (While the USPSTF had recommended some preventive services prior to the ACA becoming law, nearly all recommendations have been updated or expanded since that date.) The Biden administration is likely to appeal the ruling.
The Prevent Cancer Foundation strongly opposes the decision eliminating free coverage of preventive services and urges the federal government to appeal the ruling. Routine cancer screening can detect cancer early (even if you have no signs or symptoms) and early detection of cancer can mean less extensive treatment, more treatment options and better chances of survival. This ruling jeopardizes the opportunity for millions of Americans to check their health in an affordable, accessible way.
“Prevention and early detection saves lives, and it really is as simple as that,” said Jody Hoyos, CEO of the Prevent Cancer Foundation. “Increasing the costs people pay for prevention and early detection services, such as routine cancer screenings, and limiting access, will lead to diagnoses of cancers at later stages. We have made great strides in reducing death and suffering from cancer because it was made a priority. Going backwards and restricting access does not serve the people of this country.”
The Prevent Cancer Foundation is deeply committed to advocating for access to preventive care on behalf of all people and will continue to monitor this issue. For more information on free and low-cost cancer screenings, please visit our website.
###
Acerca de la Fundación Prevent Cancer®
La Fundación para Prevenir el Cáncer® es el unico estados unidos-basado organización sin ánimo de lucro solamente dedicado a cáncer prevención y temprana detección. A través de la investigación, la educación, superar a y promoción, Hemos ayudado a innumerables personas a evitar un diagnóstico de cáncer o a detectarlo lo suficientemente temprano como para poder tratarlo con éxito. Estamos impulsados por una visión de un mundo donde el cáncer sea prevenible, detectable y vencible para todos.
La Fundación está luchando para afrontar el desafío de reducir las muertes por cáncer en 40% para 2035. Para lograrlo, somos comprometido a invertir $20 millones en tecnologías innovadoras para detectar el cáncer tempranamente y avanzar multi-detección del cáncer, $10 millones para ampliar el acceso a la detección del cáncer y la vacunación médicamente comunidades desatendidas y $10 millones para educar al público sobre las opciones de detección y vacunación.
Para mayor información por favor visite www.preventcancer.org.